Blue Bird Corporation has delivered 25 electric school buses to the Little Rock School District (LRSD) in Arkansas, supported by a $9.875 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program.
The move is intended to reduce emissions and operating costs while modernizing student transportation for more than 19,000 students across over 40 schools.
The Vision electric buses have a range of 130 miles on a single charge, a capacity of up to 69 passengers, and can recharge in about two hours. They join a fleet of roughly 70 vehicles that travel 1,400 miles daily to transport around 500 students.
“This is about doing what’s right for our kids and community,” said LRSD superintendent Dr. Jermall D. Wright, noting the environmental and health benefits of replacing diesel buses with zero-emission models.
The federal program, part of a nearly $3 billion initiative, is aimed at replacing diesel buses with electric and low-emission vehicles nationwide. LRSD expects to lower energy expenses to about 19 cents per mile from 79 cents per mile for diesel, citing savings from reduced fuel and maintenance needs.
Blue Bird, the only U.S.-owned school bus manufacturer, now has more than 2,500 electric buses in operation. The latest delivery, made through Central States Bus Sales in North Little Rock, continues the manufacturer’s more than two-decade relationship with the district.
