The end of the school year will arrive soon for California families, which means quieter campuses, empty classrooms, and a well-deserved break for countless schoolteachers and staff.
But for the electric school buses at my district, Fremont Unified, there’s no summer break. Equipped with state-of-the-art vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, these vehicles will be spending the summer delivering power back to the electric grid, helping to boost grid resilience and make sure Californian’s homes stay cool during the hottest months of the year – all while earning my district money in the process.
I’ve personally witnessed the revenue-generating and grid-boosting capabilities that electric school buses possess, capabilities that can help shift the financial equation for my district in the long term and redirect valuable resources back to the classroom. But that won’t be possible unless our state leaders deliver the funding support necessary to allow districts to make the switch to new, electric school buses. Our leaders should seize the opportunity in this year’s budget to do so.
As Director of Transportation at Fremont Unified School District, I’ve seen firsthand how electric school buses align with our district’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and student well-being. These buses are doing more than getting students safely to and from school; they’re helping our district reduce emissions in our community, improve the air quality around our schools, and show students what real-world climate solutions can look like in practice.
We’re especially excited about unlocking the power of V2G technology with our electric buses. While testing the technology last fall, we were able to generate enough energy to power an estimated six to ten homes in a single discharge session—using just one bus and one charger. You can imagine the potential impact as we begin utilizing all nine of our bidirectional chargers with our 22 electric school buses!
This technology also creates the opportunity for our district to generate revenue by participating in California Public Utilities Commission’s Emergency Load Reduction Program (ELRP). That means electric school buses are not just transportation assets, but also financial and energy assets that can help districts reduce operating costs. It’s a powerful example of how school buses can serve not only student transportation, but also broader community resilience and grid stability while creating new financial opportunities for districts.
And the benefits of electric school buses go beyond their revolutionary power-sharing potential. The only school bus type with zero tailpipe emissions, they spare children from the harmful exhaust of diesel buses that can worsen air quality and cause asthma, cancer and brain development issues. Electric school buses can also offer a healthier, smoother, quieter and more comfortable ride for disabled students without the smell of diesel exhaust pollution.
We’re already seeing firsthand the transformative potential of electric school buses. California is also among the nation’s leading states in investing in sustainable and zero-emission school transportation, providing critical funding and incentive programs that have helped districts like Fremont Unified modernize our fleets. Thanks to these investments, we now have real-world proof that this technology works — not only reducing emissions and improving air quality but also strengthening grid resilience and creating new financial opportunities for school districts through vehicle-to-grid technology.
As more districts see these benefits in action, the potential statewide impact will continue to grow. But if school districts across California hope to realize the health, sustainability, and revenue benefits for themselves and their communities, they’ll need continued state support. Currently, the upfront purchase price of an electric school bus remains higher than its diesel counterpart.
That’s why I’m calling on our Governor and state legislators to continue to make meaningful one-time investments into electric school buses that prioritize underserved students and students with disabilities to bolster the state’s commitment for all of California’s school buses to transition to electric, without diverting important resources from the classroom.
An investment in electric school buses has the power to deliver quiet, clean student transportation today, as well as provide financial benefits for years to come. Let’s take advantage of this moment to transform the educational experience for our kids, starting from the moment they step on the bus in the morning.
Ernest Epley
Director of Transportation, Fremont Unified School District
