KIPP North Carolina Public Schools will unveil three new electric school buses at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at KIPP Durham College Prep. The event marks the district’s first use of electric vehicles in its transportation fleet.
Electric School Buses Join KIPP Fleet
KIPP partnered with Highland Electric Fleets, a provider of Electrification-as-a-Service, to bring the buses into operation. Duke Energy and Miller Electric supported the project as local partners. The district selected 72-passenger Thomas Built electric school buses, which Carolina Thomas delivered.
To support daily operations, crews installed three Zerova charging stations. The buses and chargers will serve about 216 of the district’s 3,000 students each day. The electric school buses will operate on regular routes serving the Durham campus.
Benefits for Students and Communities
Electric school buses provide quieter and smoother rides than traditional diesel models. They also help reduce noise around school campuses and nearby neighborhoods. By adding electric vehicles to its fleet, the district aims to improve the daily transportation experience for students, it said.
The district also expects the electric school buses to support long-term operational savings. Lower fuel and maintenance costs can help redirect resources toward educational priorities…