Blog

May 30, 2023

First Electric School Bus to Begin Operations in Walla Walla SD

Thanks to funds from the Department of Energy's Air Quality Clean Diesel

Thanks to funds from the Department of Energy's Air Quality Clean Diesel Electric School Bus Grant the Walla Walla School District will soon put its first all-electric school bus into service.

This bus is the first of three that the District will receive, the WWSD is one of, if not the first, District in eastern WA to receive them.

According to the WWSD, it will be used on local routes initially. The range of the bus, under ideal conditions, is said to be about 300 miles. According to the District:

"Community members are invited to get a close up look at this new modern marvel during a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday, May 30 at 10 a.m. at the SE Washington Transportation Cooperative (1162 Entley St., Walla Walla, WA 99362)."

Drivers are receiving additional instruction on the operation of the new buses, no firm date as to when the first one will begin operations, but it's expected to be soon.

According to The US Department of Energy, as well as a report from Seattle Climate.org, a typical electric school bus costs around $400K, as opposed to the average national cost of a diesel bus at $615K.

The range of 300 miles under optimal conditions can be affected by weather. A 2020 report from insideevs.com indicates an ambient temperature drop from 50-60 degrees to between 22-32 degrees can result in up to a 37 percent loss in range.