Maryland school district that bought electric buses is now ordering more than 100 diesel buses

A Maryland school district that bought hundreds of electric buses is now ordering more than 100 diesel buses due to the electric ones not meeting requirements for use.Montgomery County Public Schools is seeking proposals for companies to purchase 140 diesel buses, 45 of which must have wheelchair capabilities, the Washington Post reported Monday. A school board vote on a contract is expected in April.
The change comes as some electric buses are experiencing extended periods of service interruptions because of “charging challenges” and parts issues, district spokesperson Liliana López said. She added that the maintenance problems are exacerbated by cold weather. Also, other buses aren’t meeting the district’s needs to transport students with special needs.
“Our primary focus is ensuring safe, timely and reliable transportation for the more than 103,000 students we serve daily,” López said. “Current electric bus technology is not fully capable of meeting all of our transportation demands, particularly for longer routes, field trips and midday services that exceed charging capacities.”
Montgomery County  is the largest Maryland school district, with more than 1,300 buses that travel an estimated 112,000 miles per day.
The new plan for diesel buses comes after the district signed a contract in 2021 to buy 326 electric buses, which leaders said was a step toward eventually replacing its entire fleet with electric vehicles. However, the purchase with Highlight Electric Fleets was affected by months-long delivery delays and maintenance issues.
Montgomery County’s inspector general found the school district failed to properly hold the bus company accountable for its shortfalls.
After the late deliveries, the county’s school board decided to purchase 90 special education diesel buses in 2023 for $14.7 million.
The board partially suspended its contract with Highland Electric Fleets last year. In the fall, the Maryland board of education voted to overturn the district’s contract with the company, saying it was “tainted” by the involvement of an employee later convicted of fraud.
The school district has appealed the state board’s vote to Montgomery County Circuit Court, and proceedings are ongoing. López said the district continues its business relationship with Highland Electric Fleets to maintain 285 electric school buses.
The county has a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% in 2027 and 100% in 2035, according to a climate plan implemented in 2021. To meet this goal, the school district must stop purchasing non-electric buses by 2027.
López said that while the district is not acquiring additional electric vehicles at this time, it remains committed to reducing greenhouse emissions.

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