In a groundbreaking development, Blue Bird, a renowned school bus manufacturer, has been chosen to supply Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) in Florida with 20 cutting-edge electric school buses, marking a significant stride towards greener and more sustainable student transportation.
Blue Bird is set to deliver its state-of-the-art Vision electric school buses to the esteemed M-DCPS. With an impressive seating capacity of 72 students, these buses are designed to cover distances of up to 120 miles on a single charge, propelling the district into an eco-conscious era of transportation. In collaboration with Florida Power & Light, a leading power utility company, the school district is gearing up to establish 50 high-speed DC fast charging stations, solidifying the infrastructure necessary for the operation of these electric buses.
The notable funding for this eco-friendly endeavor comes in the form of an $11.6 million grant awarded to M-DCPS from Florida’s Volkswagen Mitigation Settlement Trust fund. This financial boost will enable the acquisition of Blue Bird’s electric school buses, fostering a pivotal move towards a cleaner and more sustainable future.
The unveiling of Blue Bird’s Vision electric school bus occurred just a matter of weeks ago in July, accompanied by the announcement of expanded production capacities in May. This timely advancement aligns with the growing demand for eco-conscious solutions in the transportation sector.
Dr. Jose Dotres, Superintendent of M-DCPS, expressed his enthusiasm about this transformative initiative, stating, “Miami-Dade County Public Schools is excited to put its first 20 electric, zero-emission school buses into service, signaling that we put our students’ and community’s health first. We are looking forward to a successful pilot program and to building on our decades-long relationship with Blue Bird, the district’s student transportation provider of choice.”
Britton Smith, President of Blue Bird Corporation, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the significance of this pilot program in the larger context of Miami-Dade’s environmental efforts. “This pilot program is a wonderful first step in the electrification of Miami-Dade’s fleet and improving the air quality for its students and the community-at-large,” Smith remarked.
With this groundbreaking partnership between Blue Bird, M-DCPS, and Florida Power & Light, Miami-Dade County’s education system embarks on a new era of sustainable transportation, setting an inspiring example for other educational institutions and communities alike.
