Boston Public Schools Starts First 20 Blue Bird Electric Buses in Operation

Boston Public Schools has made a significant stride towards sustainable transport by introducing its initial fleet of 20 Blue Bird Vision electric school buses. These entirely emission-free vehicles are now serving over 2,500 students daily, providing a safe and reliable mode of transportation to and from 42 local-area schools. This marks the commencement of an ambitious pilot program, setting the school district on an innovative path to convert its entire fleet of 750 vehicles to electric. This initiative not only showcases the district’s commitment to sustainability but also sets a meaningful example for other districts to follow.

Blue Bird Corporation, in collaboration with Anderson Blue Bird Bus Sales of New England, has successfully delivered its initial fleet of 20 electric school buses to Boston Public Schools (BPS). Recognized as the largest electric school bus deployment in the Northeast, this groundbreaking pilot program has garnered praise from school officials and local government leaders. Led by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, this transition to electric vehicles will greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, benefiting student and community health.

The Boston Public Schools (BPS) has made a significant stride towards sustainable transportation with the recent induction of 20 advanced Blue Bird Vision electric buses into their service fleet. These eco-friendly buses, each with a maximum capacity of 71 students, can cover up to 120 miles on a single charge. Charging from 0% to 100% can be accomplished within roughly four hours using BPS’s Level III ICE 30 kW fast chargers installed at the Readville, MA bus depot. As a testament to their efficiency and reliability, Blue Bird’s zero-emission buses now transport over 2,500 students daily, ensuring safe travel to and from 42 local-area schools. This move symbolizes a significant commitment to reducing carbon emissions and promoting greener transportation alternatives within the education sector.

“We are thrilled by this historic partnership. This pilot program is an important step in our work towards a fully electric fleet by 2030, as part of the Green New Deal for Boston Public Schools,” said Mary Skipper, Superintendent for Boston Public Schools. “These buses are quieter, cleaner, and are an essential part of reducing BPS’ carbon footprint and creating a healthier city. Putting the needs of our young people first is central to our mission. Clean, reliable buses that get our students to school reliably, while also cutting down on pollutants in the air and reducing carbon emissions is an important step that we must take for the well-being of Boston’s young people and their future.”

“Our students enjoy riding on our new electric buses. They love the quiet drive. We all love that our students, drivers and school staff are not being exposed to any exhaust fumes generated by traditional, diesel-powered buses. In addition, our bus drivers have had positive feedback about vehicle performance,” said Jackie Hayes, Assistant Director of Contract Operations and Fleet for Boston Public Schools. “Our pilot program marks an important step toward the electrification of our entire school bus fleet by 2030 to significantly reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions.”

“Blue Bird is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of zero-emission school buses in North America,” said Britton Smith, Senior Vice President of Electrification and Chief Strategy Officer for Blue Bird Corporation, which has more than 950 electric-powered school buses in operation today. “We are excited to add 20 electric vehicles to Boston Public Schools’ bus fleet and to further help the school district to put student and community health first.”

The Boston Public Schools (BPS) has partnered with Anderson Blue Bird Bus Sales of New England for over a decade to meet its student transportation needs. Maintaining a fleet of nearly 750 buses, with approximately one-third being diesel powered, BPS acquired the electric buses for the pilot program from Anderson Blue Bird Bus Sales of New England. This family-owned and operated dealership has been serving the region since 1961.

“Being on the ground floor with Boston Public Schools, the City of Boston and Transdev, BPS’s maintenance and operations contractor, to initiate this pilot project and see it through to this recent deployment is something special for all our team members that made this a success,” said Jim Anderson, Vice President of Anderson Blue Bird Bus Sales of New England. “BPS’s transition from a diesel to a propane and now an electric powered fleet demonstrates the commitment the Boston Public Schools and The City of Boston has undertaken to provide a cleaner, more sustainable environment within the city boundaries: Boston EV Strong.”

Boston Public Schools anticipates benefiting from significant cost-saving opportunities by switching to these electric buses. Conventional diesel-powered vehicles are often tied with substantial fuel and maintenance costs, which can be reduced or even eliminated when using electric buses. For instance, several Blue Bird customers have reported fuel costs of up to 49 cents per mile for their diesel buses. In contrast, the average energy cost for electric buses stands at a meager 14 cents per mile. This translates into immense savings over the long run, further emphasizing the economic feasibility of the school district’s shift towards sustainable transportation.