Salinas City Elementary School District
Salinas, California
Salinas City Elementary School District
Salinas City Elementary School District is committed to reducing their carbon footprint. The community is excited to partner with Highland to add 10 electric school buses to their fleet, facilitated by Central Coast Community Energy. With the health and safety of their students a top priority, Salinas is eager to provide a cleaner ride to school.
“Central Coast Community Energy is excited to fund electric school buses throughout the Central Coast and help reduce overhead costs that can be returned to the classroom. Our goal is to reduce emissions and assist CCCE customers with the transition from fossil fuel power to clean, renewable energy through financial resources and education.”
Jon Griesser
CCCE Energy Programs Director
Events
Salinas City Elementary School District recently unveiled their new electric school buses during a ribbon cutting ceremony. Learn more and view a video recap of the event here.
Videos
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an electric bus structurally any different than a traditional bus?
No. Electric school buses are structurally identical to their traditional counterparts. They are built on the same chassis as diesel buses by many of the same manufacturers, including Blue Bird, Thomas Built Buses, and IC. Electric school buses meet all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS).
What are the health benefits of electric school buses?
Electric school buses eliminate student, driver, and community exposure to diesel fumes, which have been linked to childhood asthma, respiratory illnesses, and absenteeism. These effects are often more severe in historically marginalized and underrepresented communities.
How far can a fully-charged bus travel?
Depending on the model, a typical electric school bus can travel 100-120+ miles on a full charge. This range makes electric school buses suitable for more than 90% of all school bus routes in the United States. Electric school buses also have a regenerative braking mode that enables them to partially recharge while they’re being driven, which can help extend range.
What is vehicle-to-grid technology?
Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology allows an electric school bus to both draw energy from the grid to charge its batteries, and discharge energy from its batteries back to the grid when the community needs it. This bi-directional charging infrastructure transforms an electric school bus into a valuable Distributed Energy Resource (DER) — effectively a large battery that utilities can draw on during periods of peak demand to reduce strain on the electric grid and make communities more resilient. Utilities with V2G programs pay for this extra power, which can help reduce the cost of electrification.