Xcel Energy has awarded $1.4 million dollars in electric school bus and bidirectional charger funding to Salida School District, who approved the project in partnership with Highland Electric Fleets. This new project also introduces vehicle-to-building (V2B) charging technology that will support both student transportation and school operations.
The project includes two electric school buses, two DC fast chargers installed at the district’s bus depot, and one V2B charger located at Salida Middle School. The V2B charger will allow the district to test how electric school buses can provide backup power to the school during a power outage, supporting critical systems such as lighting, security systems, and other essential electrical loads.
In addition to daily routes, the electric buses will serve as mobile energy assets during V2B testing at Salida Middle School, innovating and evaluating how the buses can provide backup power to support school operations during power outages and other grid disruptions. These buses cannot support long trips, but are able to cover two of the district’s daily bus routes. The district will still maintain diesel buses, particularly to make the longer trips the community’s rural setting requires.
Electric school buses eliminate tailpipe emissions, which improves air quality around schools and bus stops and reduces exposure to diesel exhaust for students, drivers, and staff. They are also significantly quieter than traditional diesel school buses, contributing to a calmer ride experience. Reduced noise can support improved comfort and focus for students, including those who are neurodivergent or sensitive to sound, helping create a more welcoming environment during daily transportation.
By combining electric school buses with V2B charging, Salida School District is taking an innovative approach to evaluating how transportation and energy systems can work together to benefit schools and the broader community.
For additional information please contact Kim LeTourneau at 719-530-5225 or kletourneau@salidaschools.org.