Wilkes County Schools
Wilkes, Georgia
Wilkes County Schools
Wilkes County Schools (WCS) in Georgia recently added five new Blue Bird electric school buses to their fleet, as well as five Tellus chargers. WCS is the first school district in Georgia with an all-green school bus fleet.
The new fleet will significantly improve air quality for students and the community, while reducing fuel and vehicle maintenance costs. WCS received funding through the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program to purchase the vehicles.
“Blue Bird’s zero- and ultra-low-emission school buses will help us create a healthier environment for our students and communities at large while significantly lowering our operating costs. Together, we have transformed our ambitious vision of clean, sustainable student transportation into a reality.”
Michelle Smith
Wilkes County Schools Superintendent
Events
We celebrated with Wilkes County Schools at their Clean School Bus Ribbon Cutting Event as they unveiled their five new electric school buses!
Read the press coverage:
New Fleet, Clean Slate: Georgia District Goes All-Green with Latest Buses | School Bus Fleet
Georgia school district leads with all-electric, propane bus fleet | Power Progress
Georgia School District Launches All-Green Bus Fleet | Facilities Management Advisor
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.
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.