U.S. student transportation provider Zūm will deploy the largest fully electric school bus fleet with vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capability in the northeastern United States for Branford Public Schools in Connecticut, the company said. The fleet, scheduled to begin service in the 2026–27 school year, will also mark Zūm’s first all-electric bus depot on the East Coast.
The project will enable the school district to complete its transition to electric buses within two years—three years ahead of the original timeline under a 10-year transportation contract signed in 2024. Bidirectional charging infrastructure will allow buses to supply stored electricity back to the local grid when not in use, turning fleet batteries into distributed energy assets.
Zūm said the V2G capability could support grid stability while maximizing utilization of vehicles that are typically idle outside school hours. Connecticut Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz attended the announcement, highlighting the project’s potential to improve air quality and infrastructure resilience.
School officials emphasized both environmental and operational benefits. Superintendent Christopher Tranberg said the transition prioritizes students and families while offering long-term energy advantages. Electric buses equipped with bidirectional charging “create cleaner transportation today” and could help strengthen the local power system by returning energy to the grid, he said.
Beyond electrification, Zūm provides digital tools for fleet management and family communication, including a mobile application that allows parents to track bus locations in real time. The company reported a 98% on-time arrival rate for the Branford district.
The deployment reflects Zūm’s expanding national footprint. The company now partners with school districts in 15 states, including major metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, and Kansas City. Founder and Chief Executive Ritu Narayan described the Branford project as a milestone in building a modern, sustainable student transportation system.