KILGORE, Texas — Kilgore Independent School District is pioneering a new approach to student transportation with the addition of electric school buses.
Kilgore ISD recently secured funding through an EPA grant to acquire four electric buses, making it the first district in East Texas to gain the fleet of buses.
Traditionally, the roar of a diesel engine signaled the start of a school bus ride, however, the new electric buses operate almost silently, a stark departure from their diesel counterparts.
"This is going to help the district because it will allow us to replace older busses that are traditionally more polluting with diesel engines, with newer busses that obviously emit zero emissions because they're using an electric motor," Wheeler said.
Wheeler says while the technology is still in its early stages, the electric buses boast a range of approximately 120 miles on a single charge.
For now, they will primarily serve local routes, covering an average of 15 to 30 miles each day.
Charging the buses is a straightforward process, as drivers simply pull up to designated charging stations and connect the electric charger nozzle into the bus.
The chargers can replenish the batteries from empty to full within three to four hours.
Despite the shift towards electric buses, Wheeler noted that diesel and petroleum-based products will remain apart of the district's operations.
Looking ahead, Kilgore ISD plans to evaluate the electric buses program before considering further expansion of their fleet.
Soon enough Kilgore residents will see the new electric buses in action with a distinctive green 'Blue Bird' logo on top of the bus.