Twin Rivers Unified School District in Sacramento, California, has unveiled nine new electric school buses with another 10 on the way, as it expands its nationally leading zero-emissions fleet.
The district received five Blue Bird All American Electric buses on Wednesday and followed up with four new eLion buses from the Lion Electric Company on Friday. With 25 total electric buses, Twin Rivers operates the largest electric school district fleet in the U.S.
“We are at the top of the California Energy Commission grant, so we are anticipating receiving another 10 within the next few months,” Director of Transportation Tim Shannon told School Transportation News. “So that will bring our fleet total up to 35.”
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Currently, 120 of Twin Rivers’ 131 total school buses operate on alternative fuel or power. On Wednesday, the district also received a new CNG Blue Bird school bus to bring its total CNG bus count to 35. The district also operates 60 renewable diesel buses.
Shannon added that his goal is to get as many electric buses in his fleet as possible, eliminating as many renewable diesel buses as he can. He serves as chair of the alternative-fuel writing committee for the 17th National Congress on School Transportation that is scheduled for May 15-20, 2020.
