Boulder, Colorado, is doubling down on its fleet of electric buses through a state grant program that will provide the school district nearly $4 million to aid in the efforts.
The Boulder Daily Camera reported that the Boulder Valley School District will more than double its e-bus fleet from 9 to 19 with the purchase of 10 additional electric buses through $3.8 million it received from Colorado’s $65 million electric bus grant program. Neighboring district Denver Public Schools is also on a similar sustainability path, as FacilitiesNet reported recently.
Colorado’s grant program supports bus purchases, conversions, charging infrastructure and the cost of scrapping old buses, the media outlet reported.
Electric buses are a significant cost hurdle for school districts. Each bus can cost up to $400,000 and charging stations are about $5,500 each.
Boulder Valley received its first electric bus in March 2021, when it added one to its fleet of 200. It currently operates six electric buses and will receive three more later this year. Plans to roll out the 10 newest buses were not outlined in the article.
Rob Price, the school district’s assistant superintendent of operations, says the district can support 40 electric buses with a travel range of 120 miles.
Dave Lubach is the executive editor of the facilities market.
