Colorado's largest electric school bus fleet has a new charging setup designed to keep nearly every vehicle ready for the road. Denver Public Schools has installed a 26-plug charging hub to support its 28 electric buses, as Eletrek reported.
Here's what to know
At the Hilltop Bus Terminal, electrical systems provider Winn-Marion built the district's new charging depot, while PowerFlex manages the smart charging system and the site's energy use.
The setup runs on a 650-kilowatt Kempower distributed charging system, according to the outlet.
With the addition of 25 Blue Bird Vision electric school buses, Denver Public Schools' electric fleet grew from three buses to 28, Denver7 previously reported. DPS said then that means electric vehicles make up 12% of its yellow school bus fleet.
Instead of giving each charger a fixed output, the district's depot uses 13 dual-port Kempower Satellite dispensers, according to Electrek. Because power can be shifted across the 26 plugs, buses assigned to longer routes can be charged first, while vehicles that can wait receive less power.
The schedule mattered too. The hub was finished before the district's first day of school on Aug. 24, so the system is in place as buses return to regular service, per the outlet.
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More background
Student health is one reason the expansion stands out. The American Lung Association links diesel exhaust to asthma attacks, lung damage, and other serious health problems, and children are especially vulnerable because their lungs are still developing.
That issue is widespread. Electrek noted that about 26 million children in the US ride school buses and that roughly 95% of those buses are still diesel-powered. Replacing even part of that fleet with electric models can reduce students' exposure to tailpipe emissions during daily rides.
Denver7 reported DPS expects annual energy costs of about $1,900 per electric bus, compared with roughly $6,800 for diesel. For the 25 new buses, the district projects about $123,000 in yearly fuel savings, along with around 75% lower maintenance because electric buses do not have engines, transmissions, or many other moving parts.
What's being done?
The new depot is also meant to generate better operating data. As Electrek reported, DPS plans to track electricity use, maintenance needs, and overall efficiency through its monitoring system, which could help it make clearer comparisons with diesel costs.
Even so, the district says the long-term financial picture is still incomplete. DPS does not yet have enough real-world data for a full lifetime cost comparison, per Denver7. Each electric bus includes a $93,000 battery with an eight-year warranty, and more expensive repairs could arrive in years nine or 10, around the same time diesel buses also start requiring major work.
The project also ties into a broader pollution reduction plan. Denver7 reported that DPS aims to cut total greenhouse gas emissions by at least 90% by 2050, and that transportation currently accounts for 14% of those emissions.
Kempower's school bus footprint extends beyond Denver as well, Electrek noted. The company says its charging equipment is serving electric school buses in Quebec, Louisiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
Where can I learn more?
Denver Public Schools' new charging hub is part of a broader push toward electric school buses in districts across the country. The articles here look at rising demand, federal support, and manufacturer growth helping that shift move beyond a single Colorado fleet.
• Across the US, orders for electric buses have risen tenfold.
• GreenPower Motor Company says order pipeline at record levels reflects rising demand in three states.
• Nationwide, federal electric bus funding doubled, giving more districts room to replace diesel fleets.
Denver's 26-plug depot matters beyond one terminal because it reflects how districts everywhere are trying to figure out how to scale electric fleets and cover the long-term costs. Those questions are shaping school transportation decisions nationwide.
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