South Burlington School District
South Burlington, Vermont
The South Burlington Depot
South Burlington School District (SBSD) is committed to doing their part in mitigating climate change and limiting their environmental impact on the community. As a demonstration of this commitment, SBSD has partnered with Highland to replace four diesel school buses with zero-emission electric buses. SBSD’s electric school buses have been operational since August 2022, and the district has one of the largest electric school bus fleets in Vermont. When not in use, these buses provide stored energy to the grid during energy peaks through innovative vehicle-to-grid (V2G) bus chargers.
“When I call Highland I am always greeted with a hello, my questions are answered in a timely manner and my input is always appreciated, making me feel like an important part of the team and not just another customer.”
Sean McKenzie
Transportation Coordinator at South Burlington School District
Upcoming Events
There are no upcoming electric school bus events at South Burlington School District. Please check back later for updates.
Bus Talk
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.