Solar EV charging depot unveiled for California electric school bus fleet

An electric school bus is plugged in under the solar canopy at Turlock Unified School District. (Photo: Schneider Electric)

At a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its transportation center, the Turlock (Calif.) Unified School District (TUSD) unveiled a new solar-powered charging system for its nine new Blue Bird buses. Solar canopies shading the parking lot will charge the buses, which will replace diesel buses in the TUSD fleet.

Project partners included Schneider Electric and charging technology provider The Mobility House, which provided the charging logic of the system. The approach will maximize the use of on-site solar energy and minimize the cost of power purchased from the electric utility.

“Solar energy and electric buses are complementary technologies that provide a vision for the future of sustainable school transportation,” said Greg Hintler, CEO of The Mobility House North America.

Schneider Electric and The Mobility House have jointly deployed several electric school bus charging infrastructure projects in California to date, including previous installations at Stockton Unified School District and Modesto City Schools, with further deployments planned for later this summer.

“California school districts like Turlock are leading the way towards our electric future,” said Elliott Feldman, program manager at Schneider Electric.