Worcester Public Schools Rolls Out Fleet Of Electric School Buses

WORCESTER, MA — Some students riding the bus to and from school in Worcester might notice a quieter ride, as the school district begins using new technology.

Worcester Public Schools has officially rolled out 20 new full-sized electric school buses this week. The change is a step toward reducing the district’s carbon emissions and keeping alignment with the city’s Green Worcester Plan.

“This is a commitment to reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to a better environment for the children we serve,” said Superintendent Brian E. Allen.

The electric buses are yellow and look nearly identical to the gasoline-powered buses, the school district said.

Worcester Public Schools owns and operates 136 full-sized buses, including the 20 new electric buses, as well as 115 mid-size buses and 40 vans. The district is now in its fourth year of operating buses without a third-party company, which WPS said has increased on-time performance and cost efficiency.

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Safety training was conducted for the WPS bus drivers, transportation staff, and the Worcester Fire and Police Departments, the school district said. The electric buses were also being test-driven without students on board last week.

With just one charge, the bus can drive 120 miles in optimal weather. Still, they will be charged after each morning and afternoon trip, which is about 40 miles, according to the school district. The bus's battery also recharges itself while it is being driven

The electric buses and charging stations were purchased with grant funding from the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. They are located at the WPS bus depot and were built by ICBus, an American bus manufacturer owned by International Motors.

Now the annual maintenance cost is about 40 to 60 percent less than that of a gas-powered bus, the school district said.

“We are pleased to offer a cleaner, quieter ride for our students while continuing to modernize and strengthen our fleet,” said Mike Freeman, WPS's Administrative Director of Operations. “While the buses look just like our traditional gasoline buses, they represent an important step forward in sustainability. Our drivers are excited to operate the electric buses and play a key role in advancing Worcester Public Schools’ environmentally responsible practices.”

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