Princeton Schools Will Add 2 Electric Buses To Fleet By Next Summer

PRINCETON, NJ — Princeton Public Schools (PPS) recently received a grant to purchase two electric school buses. As reported by Patch, the grant was provided by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) as part of a $15 million statewide program.

On Monday, PPS said the new electric buses will be integrated into its fleet as early as next summer. Each bus will be capable of traveling approximately 110 miles per charge.

Even with the electric heater in use during winter, the range covers nearly a third of Princeton’s daily routes, district officials said.

The buses will recharge at a new fast-charging station, which requires about six hours to fully charge both vehicles simultaneously.

Once New Jersey has a program in place, this station can send energy back to the grid during high-demand periods, such as summer evenings.

“We believe governmental entities can and should take the lead in modeling sustainable practices, especially when we can achieve this within our fairly strict budgetary framework,” district Business Administrator Matthew Bouldin said. “Programs like the NJDEP grant make sustainable choices attainable.”

The total cost for two electric buses and a fast-charging station is just over $1 million, compared to approximately $276,000 for two gasoline-powered buses.

The NJDEP grant, along with revenue from the sale of an older bus and a $40,000 federal clean vehicle credit, reduce the cost difference to $24,000. With anticipated savings in fuel and maintenance, the district expects to recoup this investment within four to seven years.

Bouldin describes the addition of electric buses as “a trial run,” noting that Princeton Public Schools is open to expanding its electric fleet in the future.

However, with the current fleet being relatively young and school buses having a long service life, the transition will be gradual.

The district’s move toward electric buses was developed in partnership with Sustainable Princeton, a local nonprofit that assists the school district in its sustainability efforts.

“This initiative is a significant step toward reducing our community’s carbon footprint and improving air quality for Princeton,” said Program Manager Jenny Ludmer.

“Sustainable Princeton is proud to support the school district in seeking grants and opportunities to showcase the feasibility and benefits of electric transportation.”

The initiative also aligns with broader efforts in the community. Princeton University has already introduced electric buses to its fleets, and the district’s transportation contractor, Rick Bus, has also begun this transition.

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