ABM Delivers the Nation’s Largest School District-Led EV Bus Depot
In January 2026, ABM partnered with the nation’s second-largest school district to deliver the largest school district-led electric bus charging deployment in U.S. history. Drawing on in-house expertise and partnerships with architects and engineers, ABM designed a redundancy-layered EV fleet charging depot that achieved 24% savings on installation and met a high uptime requirement backed by an OEM guarantee.
The district came to the project with a bus yard operating on a mix of 60% internal combustion engine and 40% compressed natural gas vehicles, and needed a partner capable of transforming that yard into an advanced EV fleet charging depot. Requirements included meeting a strict uptime threshold, integrating vehicle-to-grid readiness, minimizing installation costs, and navigating complex site and construction constraints. ABM was selected from a competitive field of more than 30 applicants.
The solution centered on a comprehensive redesign of the bus yard, shifting traffic flow from east-west to north-south. That single change optimized the charger layout, improved bus movement, and enabled a more efficient electrical design.
As Robb Lichtman, Senior Business Development Manager of eMobility at ABM, described it: “We reconfigured the yard so buses could flow north to south. That change alone enabled significant gains in efficiency and cost savings, which ultimately won us the project.”
From there, ABM installed and commissioned new charging infrastructure for immediate use, deployed mobile charging units to provide redundancy and maintain uptime, and implemented the ABM EV OS Charge Management System for remote monitoring, load control, and seamless integration with mobile chargers. A hybrid operations and maintenance model combined daily on-site personnel with remote monitoring for proactive support. Clear service level agreements with original equipment manufacturers ensured rapid technical response, and local contractor Morillo Construction was brought in for optimized site execution.
The results outperformed expectations across every dimension. Installation costs came in 24% below competing bids. The high uptime service requirement was met, keeping the district’s fleet reliably operational. The spatial and electrical configuration was optimized to support cost-effective future expansion. The site was delivered microgrid-ready with vehicle-to-grid capabilities, positioning the district for long-term resilience and potential revenue opportunities. A five-year operations and maintenance contract ensures continued performance and support for district stakeholders.
ABM is one of the world’s largest providers of integrated facility, engineering, and infrastructure solutions. With more than 100,000 team members delivering essential services every day, ABM helps make spaces cleaner, safer, and more efficient while enhancing the overall occupant experience. The company serves a wide range of market sectors including commercial real estate, aviation, education, mission critical, and manufacturing and distribution.
With over $8 billion in annual revenue and a blue-chip client base, ABM delivers innovative technologies and sustainable solutions that empower clients to achieve their goals. Committed to creating smarter, more connected spaces, ABM is investing in the future to meet evolving challenges and build a healthier, thriving world. For more information, visit ABM.com.
