Two electric buses are coming to Lake Washington School District
When one thinks of a school bus, the first three words that may come to their mind are yellow, black, and diesel.
The iconic school bus, a symbol deeply intertwined with public education, is a familiar sight for parents, students, and communities. Yet, beyond its traditional role as a means of transport, the school bus is also a reflection of a school district’s values and commitments. For the Lake Washington School District (LWSD), those values are changing in the face of human-caused climate change.
On Jan. 9, LWSD reaffirmed its dedication to environmental sustainability by securing a $500,000 grant for two new electric buses through the Clean School Bus Program Grants Competition. This program is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that was passed by Congress and signed by President Joe Biden in 2021.
LWSD has applied for various electric bus grants since the Clean School Bus Program launched. This is the first grant that the district has received.
“We are incredibly proud of our team for continuing to find ways to help us fund projects like this in our district,” Jon Holmen, LWSD’s superintendent, said in a press release.
LWSD expects the transition to electric buses will make a sizable impact towards the district’s sustainability goals.
“Over time, we anticipate the fuel savings for these buses will be significant,” Shannon Parthemer, the district’s communications director, said in an email.
However, this transition may be very costly. According to Parthemer, the current base price of a large electric bus is $389,000, which is $244,000 more expensive than a standard diesel bus and exceeds the grant by $139,000 per bus. Sales taxes, infrastructure cost, and other supplemental expenses could add an additional $150,000 to $175,000 to the overall expenses for the two buses.
“Our state legislature has shown an interest in expanding funding opportunities. And experts believe that there will be comparable pricing in the future,” Parthemer said.
The timeline for deployment still has not been set, according to Parthemer. The district does expect these buses will arrive within two years. LWSD plans to eventually debut the buses at Robert Frost Elementary School.
The district will deploy them in a pilot program “to determine the success of their use over time,” said Parthemer.
