First Student Hits 4 Million Electric School Bus Miles, Revolutionizing Green Transportation

First Student, the leading school transportation provider across North America, is making waves in sustainable travel, surpassing 4 million miles driven by its electric school bus fleet. This achievement represents quieter, eco-friendly, and more secure commutes for students nationwide, cementing the company’s leadership in the transition to electric transportation.

This milestone underscores First Student’s dedication to shaping the future of student transportation with sustainable innovations. At the heart of this progress is First Charge, the company’s exclusive electric vehicle (EV) charging solution. First Charge simplifies the electrification process, eliminating costly infrastructure needs like trenching. Not only does it cut installation expenses by up to 50%, but it has also been adopted by over 20 school districts, with an additional 40 districts preparing to implement the system in the near future.

John Kenning, CEO and President of First Student, expressed pride in the company’s progress, stating:

“Four million miles driven is a remarkable achievement, and for our team, it is just the beginning. I thank them for their work in setting a new standard for our industry. Electrification helps us achieve our mission of providing the safest possible ride to school so that children can reach their full potential. By creating quieter, cleaner, and safer rides to school on electric school buses and helping districts scale deployments through First Charge, we can make the future of student transportation a reality today. I am confident our team will continue to drive the industry into this new era.”

The milestone of 4 million miles is equivalent to completing 160 laps around the globe. With sustainability and safety as key goals, First Student aims to reach an impressive 6 million electric miles by the close of the 2024-2025 academic year.

Kevin Matthews, Head of Electrification at First Student, added his perspective on the milestone, saying:

“We are excited to mark four million electric miles because electric school bus rides are safer for students and better for the environment. First Student is committed to providing the safest rides for the school districts and families we serve, and we will continue to create the technology that sets the standard for the future of our industry.”

Pioneering Innovations in Energy and Transportation

Beyond redefining student commutes, First Student is collaborating with Con Edison to launch a groundbreaking project in Brooklyn, New York. This initiative will replace diesel buses with 12 electric school buses equipped with solar panels, integrating a revolutionary energy model. The project pairs these buses with solar arrays and Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technology, allowing Con Edison to distribute clean, solar-generated energy across the grid during non-operational hours.

Progress on the Road to Electrification

First Student has ambitious goals in electrification, including:

• Introducing 110 new electric buses across 10 school districts

• Completing 167,400 trips with a growing fleet of 465 electric buses

• Reducing carbon emissions by 12,550 tons

The company is rapidly advancing toward its target of converting 30,000 diesel school buses to electric by 2035. Each electric bus replacing a diesel counterpart cuts greenhouse gas emissions by 54,000 pounds every year.

Source: PR Newswire