US school buses switching to electric

Australian-founded SEA Electric is partnering with Midwest Transit Equipment (MTE) to convert 10,000 US school buses to electric during the next five years.

Said to be the largest deal of its kind globally, it results in near-new zero emission buses which create environmental, health and economic benefits.

MTE, one of the largest school bus dealers in the US, will be able to provide clients with a near new 100% electric bus at a fraction of the cost of a new electric school bus, the deal covering Type A and Type C school buses.

These buses will be powered by SEA Electric’s SEA-Drive power system that powers buses and work trucks on four continents and in six countries.

The switch is expected to extend the bus’s service life by at least 10 years.

Each bus will have the ability to deliver full vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities, with the SEA-Drive power system able to feed electricity back into the power grid to improve stability when connected to a charging station.

 The partnership signifies a major step forward in reducing the carbon footprint of bus fleets, while also accelerating the industry to electrification at a desirable price point.  

Two to three re-powered buses can be delivered at the same price as a new electric bus.

 “This commitment is the most significant in this segment to-date,” SEA Electric founder and chief executive Tony Fairweather says. 

“It not only illustrates the appetite for transition to 100% electric transport, it defines the point-in-time that the commercial vehicle industry transitioned to sustainable scale, without the need for incentives.”

MTE president and chief executive John McKinney says the partnership will allow MTE to react to customer needs more quickly and will complement new bus sales. 

“As the industry moves towards zero emissions we are positioned well with our SEA Electric partnership to be a leader of the electrification movement.”

 SEA Electric America president and chief strategy officer Mike Menyhart says fitting electric drivetrains to existing school buses make sense as it keeps costs down, opens up considerable availability, creates green jobs, and makes a difference to the environment and community health.