School district rolls out groundbreaking all-electric school bus fleet
Oakland Unified School District is pioneering the nation's first all-electric school bus fleet, providing a cleaner and safer transportation option for students.
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00:00There are half a million school buses on the road in the country, and less than two persons are electrified,
00:06bringing extreme effects of pollution to children's health and climate's health.
00:11Seventy-four electric buses are now transporting 1,300 students district-wide in Oakland, California.
00:18It represents a significant step forward in slashing greenhouse gas emissions through innovative technology.
00:24In Oakland is one of the communities which is where people are most affected by pollution
00:29and air quality is pretty poor if you look at the country standard.
00:33The district partnered with the electric bus company Zoom to introduce a platform
00:38that allows parents and schools to monitor the exact location of buses in real time.
00:43They're quieter, more comfortable, and part of a larger vision for sustainability.
00:47I couldn't understand why FedEx is so great about tracking packages and our percentages
00:54and yet, you know, our most valuable asset, our kids, we didn't track when they went to school.
00:58The buses also have the ability to send power back to the grid when not in use.
01:03The district estimates that the 74 buses could power up to 400 homes,
01:08reducing the community's carbon footprint even further.
01:11We are basically eliminating like 25,000 metric tons of CO2.
01:16You know, and if you translate that, that is like, like Oakland School District then is in theory, and Zoom,
01:21planting 10,000 trees a year.
01:24Rainey says it's about ensuring every child arrives in a safe, quiet, and environmentally friendly way.
01:30And as these buses hit the road, they're not just driving toward a school,
01:34they're driving toward a cleaner, healthier future too.
01:38For AccuWeather, I'm Allie Reed.