Garretson Public Schools received a boost last year when the district was awarded nearly $1.2 million to add three electric buses to its fleet. The grant was the largest such award in South Dakota and was provided by the Clean School Bus Program, which is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with funding from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Clean School Bus Program aims to replace existing school buses with clean and zero-emission vehicles.
The Garretson School District, located in southeastern South Dakota, serves around 450 students in grades K-12. Guy Johnson, district superintendent, said the buses work well for the school’s needs. As a rural district, Garretson bus routes range from 37 to 50 miles. The electric buses have a range of 125 miles, offering a comfortable cushion even in imperfect weather or performance conditions.
This is not the first time the district has participated in the Clean School Bus Program. After previously receiving an EPA Clean Diesel grant, the school was intrigued by the possibility of adding electric buses to its roster. The school’s business manager penciled out the cost savings and decided to apply. Guy said the process of applying was relatively easy, and the school has found the grant administration and documentation straightforward. Because the Clean School Bus grant has no cost sharing or match requirement, there was no cost to the school.
Originally, there was some skepticism about how the electric buses would perform in the South Dakota winter.
“We heard, ‘What are you going to do if it’s -20 outside?’” Guy asked. “We’ve been pleasantly surprised. We get about a 20% reduction in the winter, but we’re still getting 95 miles out of a charge.”
He said the buses, manufactured by Canadian-based Lion Electric Company, have been proven effective in cold climates. They have been deployed in Quebec, where they are stored outside without any issues.
“Our drivers have told us the buses seem to handle snow and ice better than the traditional diesel buses, likely because the electric battery is located near the center of the bus, making it less front-heavy,” said Guy.
Guy noted that, beyond additional safety in the wintertime, the buses also offer a quieter ride for the students and bus drivers, and the lack of emissions means there is no exhaust polluting the air for children waiting in the bus line. However, one of the biggest benefits has been the fuel savings. While the bus charging slightly raised electricity costs, last year the district saw $15,000 to $20,000 fuel cost savings.
Getting the district’s transportation drivers and maintenance staff prepared for electric buses took a little planning, but was also a relatively smooth process.
“Bus drivers are not usually enamored with change, but they have taken to the buses just fine,” said Tim Nelson, the district’s transportation director.
He added that Lion Electric sent trainers to the school to walk the drivers through test drives and protocols. The district invited members of the local fire department to join and learn about buses.
Each bus operates mostly through software and has an on-board telemetry system, which means the school is in constant contact and can see everything going on in the bus, even speed and braking.
“It’s a different kind of maintenance, but you get used to it,” Tim said. “If we do need to troubleshoot, there is an ethernet inside the bus so technicians can remote in when needed.”
For in-person technician assistance, Lion Electric has a support team in Minnesota that will travel to the school.
For schools that might be considering adding electric buses, Guy offers some advice.
“Consider how you’re intending to use these vehicles and the length of your routes,” he said. “Understand the community perceptions and be proactive in educating and engaging the community.”
“Just look at your budgets; it’s hard to argue with the discount,” Tim added. “We need to overcome the fear of change.”
A third round of funding for the Clean School Bus Rebate Program has recently been announced. The EPA anticipates awarding up to $965 million in rebates. Interested schools can find more information at epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/clean-school-bus-program-rebates. Applications are due Jan. 9.
