In today’s educational landscape, schools across the country are making strides towards embracing sustainable solutions.

A prime example of this is unfolding at Logan-Magnolia Community Schools in Iowa, under the leadership of Kurtis Hinkel, the grounds and transportation director.

Fueled by the vision of transitioning their fleet to electric, the school district recently received a rebate through the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program, embarking on a journey to replace five of their current buses with electric ones.

Navigating the intricacies of electrification brought a new set of challenges, particularly concerning charging infrastructure. That’s where Thomas Built Buses stepped in, offering specialized Electric Bus Authority Infrastructure Consulting services.

Hinkel highlighted the school’s electrification goals, their partnership with Thomas Built Buses, and how expert consultation is helping them pave the way towards a greener future.

Could you tell us a little bit more about your district and its electrification goals?

Our school district represents 675 kids, K-12, all in one building, located in small-town Iowa.

We recently received a rebate through the EPA’s Clean School Bus program. We plan to replace five of our current buses with electric ones, covering five out of our six routes. While we didn’t fully understand the major benefits of applying for the rebate program initially, we now see great opportunities to save money. In addition to getting the buses for free, we expect to save close to $30,000 a year on diesel costs. This alone pays for a bus in just a few years.

We understand that there were concerns in our district and community about charging infrastructure, but we see this as an investment in our future. Our goals are to save money and help the environment, and we believe that this transition to electric buses will help us achieve both.

How did you first hear about Thomas Built Buses’ Electric Bus Authority Infrastructure Consulting, and what prompted you to utilize it?

Our current fleet consists of IC buses and three Blue Bird buses, but we learned about Thomas Built Buses through the dealership, and Marty, our dealer, introduced us to Mark [Richardson].

Mark, who is part of the Electric Bus Authority Infrastructure Consulting team at Thomas Built, was a reliable resource for us throughout the process of researching and selecting the right buses for our needs.

We ended up choosing Thomas Built for our electric bus needs, and we learned about their Infrastructure Consulting services through the process. Mark has been a big help to us. We direct most of our electrification questions to him, and he has been there for us every step of the way.

Were there specific services you had in mind when originally looking for help from an infrastructure consultant (Route Analysis, TCO Analysis, Charge Requirement Analysis, V2G Feasibility Analysis, Project Integration, etc.)?

Our initial focus was on Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and Route Analysis. Mark did an excellent job breaking down the information that potential utility providers were providing, including a comparative analysis of their offerings, as well as common charging considerations including peak times, non-peak times and operating in summer vs. winter months. He provided a lot of good information that we could take to our board and justify the investment. He also broke down what we were paying for diesel and projected out what we would be paying monthly, annually and five years down the road for electricity on these buses. This information made it easier for us to share with the public when they started asking questions.

Can you describe the process of working with the consulting team?

When we were initially introduced to the idea of electric vehicles, we had some anxiety over everything as it was a new world of technology that we were not familiar with. The salesperson could sell us a bus, but we needed someone like Mark to answer our questions about how to charge it, how long it would take to charge and the differences in type of chargers, like AC (alternating current) vs DC (direct current) charging.

Mark was the person we could lean on throughout the process. We took a trip out to Thomas, and I remember even feeling lost when I was looking at a charger.

Mark’s knowledge base and expertise in this area were incredibly valuable. He helped us understand the charts we were looking at and guided us through the complicated process with ease. We leaned on him for help with understanding electric utility companies, and he was able to jump on a call with us at any point to make sure we didn’t make any mistakes when setting up the infrastructure. It was comforting to have someone we could rely on, and he was always available to answer our questions or offer guidance.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in electrifying your fleet, and how did the consulting team help you overcome these challenges?

The biggest challenges we faced in electrifying our fleet were determining the most suitable vehicles to purchase and the infrastructure required to support them. We had limited knowledge about the technology and were unsure about the most cost-effective approach. We were also concerned about how the transition would impact our operations and staff.

The consulting team provided valuable insights on the different types of vehicles available and the charging infrastructure that would be required. They also conducted a thorough analysis of our current fleet and operations, which helped us determine which vehicles to replace first and the optimal timeline for the transition.

They also provided training and support to our staff on how to operate and maintain the new vehicles, which helped minimize any disruptions to our operations.

Would you recommend Thomas Built Buses’ Electric Bus Authority Infrastructure Consulting service to other organizations looking to electrify their fleets?

Yes, I would highly recommend Thomas Built Buses’ Electric Bus Authority Infrastructure Consulting service to other organizations looking to electrify their fleets. Although we have not yet plugged in our buses, the support we have received so far has been excellent. Given the limited number of schools that received grants for electric buses in our state, we have had a lot of interest from other organizations who want to see our set-up.

Working with Thomas Built Buses and their consulting team, especially Mark Richardson, has given us the confidence and knowledge we need to navigate the complex world of electric vehicle infrastructure. Unless you’re in the industry, it can feel like a foreign language, and having someone like Mark to lean on has been invaluable.

For more information on services offered by Electric Bus Authority Infrastructure Consulting, or if you’re ready to start the process of converting your school bus fleet to electric, contact the experts at Thomas Built Buses here.