Observation: EV buses handle cold temperatures well when preheated while plugged in—just like any vehicle, preparation is key.

Example: On January 21st, a bus started at -10°F with 94% charge and completed its route successfully. Another bus on January 22nd operated at -8°F, starting with 98% charge and running without major issues. Buses continued running successfully in temperatures as low as -10°F to -8°F throughout winter.

Observation: EV buses have sufficient range for rural school routes, with careful planning and charging strategies in place.

Example: On March 5th, Bus E4 started at 100% charge, completed its full morning route, and still had 58% remaining. Other buses also finished routes with ample charge left.

Observation: Lower fuel and maintenance costs make EVs a smart financial move over time.

Example: EV buses cost $0.12 per mile compared to $0.34 per mile for diesel buses—a 65% savings on fuel. On 15,000 miles per year, that’s $3,300 saved per bus.

Observation: EV buses retain enough charge to complete both morning and afternoon routes with power to spare.

Example: On March 6th, Bus E3 started at 99% charge, completed all scheduled trips, and still had 53% battery left. Similar results occurred across multiple days.

Observation: Charging miscommunication issues are being refined, and buses are not experiencing more breakdowns than diesel models. We do see an increase in down time for troubleshooting, with about one route missed per month per bus documented.

Example: On January 29th, one bus misreported its charge level but was not actually in limp mode. On February 24th, a charge discrepancy was quickly addressed by switching to a backup bus.

Observation: With infrastructure in place and improving, EV buses are a sustainable, long-term investment for the district.

Example: The district received full funding for bus chargers and all associated electrical costs will be fully state-aided. Charging stations continue to be optimized for efficiency.