Miami Dade County gets electric school buses, road to zero emission.

Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

#USA, August 18, 2023 – Miami Dade County has taken major steps to  zero emission, rolling out 20 new electric school buses just in time for the new school year which started today, Thursday August 17th.

These buses are more cost-efficient with about 14 cents per mile compared to diesel buses with up to 49 cents per mile, according to officials.  The use of electricity over diesel propulsion will evidently help to reduce pollution.

Additionally, they have a range of over 120 miles after a full charge in just 6 hours and can carry 72 passengers.

Furthermore, the buses are built with new safety features including the CRS, the child reminder system.

Upon the driver’s completion of a run and they return to the compound, they are required to  press a button at the back of the bus before they leave.  As they journey to the back to reach the button, they are to check the seats for any kids who may have stayed behind.  The button, once pressed, will disarm the system, opening the front door.

There are  safety features also for the drivers. If the driver is not wearing the seat belt, the bus will not go into gear, according to James Hick, administrative director of the school district’s department of transportation.

In recognizing special needs students, the buses also come with seven electric vans for those students.

Miami-Dade School Board members convened at the Department of Transportation Operations Office on Tuesday August 15th, 2023, to unveil the buses.

Luisa Santos, member  of the Miami Dade School Board  said the launch of the buses is doing right by the students, staff and community, providing safer, healthier, quiet, non-polluting buses.

“These buses cost thousands of dollars less over their lifetime,” expressed by Santos.

In fact, the district is using a grant of  $11.6 million dollars — from a 2016 settlement between Volkswagen and the Department of Justice over emissions violations; to purchase the buses.  For the forts batch, the grant covered 75 percent of the cost, as revealed by a spokeswoman to the Miami Herald.

The 20 buses, manufactured by Blue Bird Corporation, are only a portion of 50 ordered as highlighted by Superintendent Jose Dotres.  Also, like Dade, Broward County schools are doing the same thing ordering 60 buses with 18 already delivered.