First Student Highlights Electric School Bus Electrification at ACT Expo 2023
ANAHEIM, Calif. – First Student, a renowned school bus contractor, unveiled its ambitious plan to electrify 30,000 school buses by 2035 at the ACT Expo, the world’s largest advanced clean transportation conference. During a recent panel session featuring transportation executives, President and CEO John Kenning shared innovative strategies to enhance both safety and efficiency in student transportation.
Central to First Student’s electrification initiative is the proprietary charging system, First Charge, designed to be installed in less than a month. With over $500 million secured in federal grants, the company has already logged over 4 million miles with its electric buses. Chief Engineer Alex Cook’s trenchless charging solution allows buses to begin operation while awaiting full infrastructure development.
Kenning also discussed First Student’s exploration of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technologies, including partnerships with utilities like Con Edison in Brooklyn, aimed at developing microgrids that utilize school buses as energy storage during off-peak hours.
Beyond electrification, First Student is enhancing its safety measures through its “Halo” system, incorporating features such as parent tracking for student safety, driver monitoring for compliance, and AI-driven routing that has reduced collisions by 17%. Kenning emphasized the company’s commitment to ensuring student safety while advancing sustainable practices in school transportation.
The discussion also touched on the future of autonomy in transportation. Kenning noted that feedback from top school districts indicated a consensus that complete autonomy for school buses is not yet feasible, primarily due to the ongoing need for passenger monitoring.
First Student’s initiatives reflect a growing trend towards electrification and advanced safety solutions in the school transportation sector, exemplifying its commitment to enhancing student welfare while driving sustainability.
————————————————————————
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
————————————————————————
