News Release
Oakland Unified School District Leading the Charge in Eco-Innovation with New School Bus Fleet
For Immediate Release
Oakland, California – August 29, 2024
In a pioneering move to combat both climate change and air pollution, the Oakland Unified School District has rolled out a new fleet of school buses that not only operate without emissions but also serve a double duty as mobile power sources for the electrical grid.
These state-of-the-art, fully electric buses, introduced by the company Zum, mark a significant milestone for the district, making it the first major school district in the United States to transition to 100% electrified school buses. The new fleet is now shuttling approximately 1,300 students to and from school, effectively replacing the older diesel buses that were known to exacerbate air quality issues and contribute to health problems in the community.
The innovative aspect of these buses lies not just in their lack of tailpipe emissions but in their ability to interact with the electrical grid through vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology. This technology allows the buses to not only charge their batteries by plugging into the grid but also to discharge power back into the grid during peak energy demand times, helping to stabilize it.
Oakland’s underserved neighborhoods, often located near freeways and industrial zones, suffer from poor air quality that can lead to chronic health issues such as asthma in children, which in turn affects their school attendance and academic performance. The new electric buses aim to alleviate these concerns.
Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell commented on the significance of this transition during a press conference, We have already seen the data—more kids riding the buses means more of our most vulnerable students are not missing school. This increase in attendance over time will correlate with improved learning and higher achievement.
The challenge of moving away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy sources requires a strategic increase in electricity production. According to Kevin Schneider, an expert in power systems at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, In some places, you’re talking about doubling the amount of energy needed.
Contrary to the conventional wisdom that such a large fleet of electric vehicles might strain the grid, these buses are proving to be a valuable asset. By employing V2G technology, they are supporting the grid rather than putting additional stress on it.
Vivek Garg, co-founder, and chief operating officer of Zum, highlighted the buses’ multifunctional role in the community, School buses play a very important role in the community as a transportation provider, but now also as an energy provider.
Each bus, when plugged into the grid, has the potential to provide services such as peak shaving, load leveling, and frequency regulation, all of which are critical to integrating intermittent renewable energy sources like wind and solar into the grid effectively.
As the Oakland Unified School District leads the way in sustainable transportation solutions, it sets a precedent for other districts across the nation, showcasing how modern technology can address both environmental and social equity issues.
For more information on the new electric bus fleet and the Oakland Unified School District’s commitment to sustainability, please contact:
Oakland Unified School District
Communications Department
Email: [ OaklandUSD@oakland.k12.ca.us ]
Phone: (510) 273-6800
End of Release
Note to Editors: Interviews with Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell, district officials, and representatives from Zum are available upon request.
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