Pontiac City School District knows how much a bus ride can set a student’s day up for success. A quiet ride to school sets the tone for their day and improves the air we breathe. Electric school buses can help make this possible.
“By creating a cleaner and more enjoyable environment for our students, we hope to keep them on track to achieve their dreams,” said Bill Holcomb, energy and technology innovation specialist for Pontiac School District. “DTE is helping us do that by investing in a brighter, healthier future for our students and community.”
Pontiac City School District received $15.65 million in federal grant money through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program to purchase 40 electric buses. DTE is providing the district with chargers for the buses through our Charging Forward Program, which gives rebates toward the cost of installation. The rebates help make the transition to EVs more affordable for school districts and allow them to purchase chargers that keep their buses on the road. Over the next 10 years, DTE is committed to investing more than $11 billion dollars in clean energy initiatives like this one.
“The Charging Forward Program is a game-changer for our community,” Holcomb said. “With the support of DTE, Pontiac School District will be the first in the state to have a full fleet of electric buses, positioning us as a leader in clean energy.”
The new fleet of electrical buses will cover all routes in the district and carry more than 3,000 students. This investment will impact not only the district’s students and families but also the community as a whole. In the event of a catastrophic power outage, the district can deploy buses into neighborhoods, where they can act as generators on wheels.
“This initiative will not only support the families of the Pontiac School District by providing clean, reliable transportation for our students, but it will also be a vital resource for our community in times of need,” Holcomb said. “Community members can use the buses batteries to charge their phones, small medical devices and other essential electronics, providing a critical resource until power is restored.”
The district will still maintain and utilize diesel buses for necessities like long distance field trips and overflow routes, and will be staggering the rollout of the new buses to ensure a smooth transition for everyone with the introduction of electric vehicles.