Electric School Buses
Transportation is the #1 source of carbon emissions and we’re committed to reducing it in our communities.
Last year, we announced we would partner with local Virginia school districts as they replaced diesel buses in their fleets with electric models. The first 16 localities have been selected to help kick off the program by purchasing electric buses at the same price as diesel. 50 buses will roll out this year and, with legislative approval, we hope to enable an additional 1,500 to be added over the next 5 years. This initiative will benefit our environment, our communities, and our schools. For more information, here’s our latest news release.
Air quality inside is 6x better than non-EV models
New Vehicle to Grid Technology
① The buses are all electric & can be used as portable batteries.
② When not in use, they can be tapped as an energy resource through vehicle-to-grid technology.
③ If energy needs are high or if renewable resources are intermittent, the batteries can provide stability to the grid.
④ During a power outage or emergency, the batteries could serve as mobile power stations.
1,050 buses provides enough energy to power 10,000+ homes
Increased Safety
Electric buses are quiet, allowing for better communication between drivers and students
Every bus is equipped with a seatbelt for each student
Reduce operation & maintenance costs for schools by 60%
Lower Cost + Less Maintenance
Equivalent of 17 MPG compared to 6 MPG for diesel
Charging stations & infrastructure provided at no cost to school
Cost to upgrade from a diesel to electric model covered by program
Participating schools are able to purchase electric school buses at the same cost as diesel models.
Dominion Energy will select interested schools based on the value of the batteries to the local grid.
Cleaner Air & Zero Emissions
Replacing one diesel bus can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 54,000 pounds each year
That’s the equivalent of 3.75 pounds of carbon dioxide for every mile driven.