Denver Public Schools Adds 25 Electric School Buses to Its Fleet
The district says it will have the largest electric school bus fleet in Colorado once the buses arrive.
Denver Public Schools recently announced plans to add 25 electric school buses to its fleet, a move that would make e-buses 12 percent of its nearly 300-bus fleet.
What Happened
The Colorado district already operates three electric buses. With the addition of 25 more, DPS will have the largest fleet of electric school buses in the state. Grant funding covered the $11-million price tag for the buses and associated charging infrastructure. The current fleet drives a collective 12 thousand miles per day.
Why It Matters
DPS Director of Sustainability Tom Wildman told 9News that the e-buses will reduce exhaust near schools and benefit students, staff, and the wider community. "We've got no exhaust coming out of these buses," Wildman said. "Especially with all the air pollution issues that we have here in Denver and along the Front Range, that's a significant contribution to driving down problems with respiratory health." The district also expects notable fuel savings. A typical diesel bus costs DPS $6,800 per year in fuel, while each electric bus is expected to cost only $1,900 annually.
The Bottom Line
Denver Public Schools' planned expansion would bring its electric bus count from three to 28, representing about 12 percent of the district's nearly 300-bus fleet. Colorado school districts are engaged in what Charged EVs describes as a competition over electric bus deployment, with Boulder Valley at 13 electric buses and Aurora Public Schools operating seven with six more on the way.
