Electricity drives the future of school transportation

When Dallas ISD announced that it acquired 17 electric school buses, Ansley Carlos, bus driver for both Solar Preparatory Schools, never imagined she would be driving one.

Already, the buses are serving to transport students to field trips.   

While Carlos is pleased with her overall driving experience, she points out that one downside is ensuring the battery does not run completely flat. With an approximate 200-mile range, forgetting to recharge the buses could leave drivers stranded and disrupt services. Moreover, speeding, too, can drain battery life swiftly.  

Carlos acknowledges a further advantage of driving electric buses: the quiet engine allows her to pay closer attention to students on the bus.

“If they’re in trouble, I’ll know,” she said. 

In the meantime, she does not foresee an about-face regarding her newly found preference for electric buses. 

“I don’t want to go back to diesel,” she admitted. “This morning I had to drive a diesel because my EV is in the shop, and I was very confused. I kept looking for the buttons.”   

The electric buses are currently stationed at Lawnview Service Center. The district is planning to equip more service centers with charging capabilities in the coming years.