Submitted by Lindsey Fella Berry
CCS Green Team District Representative
Carmel Clay Schools (CCS) has added the state’s first all-electric, zero-emissions school bus.
The Cummins-powered Blue Bird electric school bus reduces harmful emissions into the atmosphere such as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulate matter and volatile organic compounds and hydrocarbons.
“This one bus is bound to lead to more positive changes,” said Mark Terry, CCO of Blue Bird Corporation. “We are looking forward to seeing the favorable environmental impacts this bus will have, as well as the maintenance and fuel cost savings the district will experience.”
Maintenance on a Blue Bird electric bus is minimal, eliminating the need for conventional fuel, air filters and transmission service and offers comparable performance to a traditional internal combustion engine. CCS installed two charging stations, one at its east side lot and one at its bus garage, to allow the bus to recharge in the same location where maintenance tasks are performed.
“We applaud Carmel Clay Schools’ administration and school board for their leadership in supporting sustainable transportation to improve air quality for their students as well as all of the residents in the district,” said Ryan Lisek, Project Manager at South Shore Clean Cities.
South Shore Clean Cities, a non-profit, member-based coalition dedicated to promoting sustainable transportation, and members Blue Bird Corporation, Cummins and MacAllister Transportation, developed the zero-emissions school bus project and received funding via a successful grant application through the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust Fund Grant Program.
The coalition worked with infrastructure providers and school officials to provide critical education on charging infrastructure, charging best practices for energy efficiency and maximum range and reliability. The non-profit serves as the project manager, while also managing the destruction of the diesel bus the new electric bus is replacing as well as required reporting and metrics.
The data collected from the project will be used to serve as an example to help other school districts in implementing zero-emission school buses.
“School districts like Carmel Clay continue to push our communities forward as they invest in clean, safe, reliable transportation options for our children,” said Vinoo Thomas, General Manager of Electrified Powertrain Systems at Cummins.
Carmel Clay Schools currently has 24 school buses powered by propane autogas, a natural gas with clean-burning properties, and plans to introduce more alternatively fueled buses in the future, such as electric, as part of its initiative to move to greener, alternative fuel bases.
“By introducing this zero-emission electric school bus into our fleet we see this as another step in expanding our efforts,” said Ron Farrand, Director of Facilities and Transportation for Carmel Clay Schools.
In addition to the work of Carmel Clay Schools facilities and transportation departments, Carmel Clay School’s Green Team encourages habits in school district that support and promote sustainability. Each of the 15 schools has a “Green Team” that provides educational and service opportunities for our students and teachers.
“Our commitment to green initiatives includes school-wide recycling programs, tree-planting projects, community and on-site school gardens, elimination of straws and plastic utensils and composting food preparation waste in our cafes,” said Ramona Rice, CCS Green Team Chair. “As we celebrate the launch of the first-ever Indiana electric school bus, we thank all local and state leaders who help us improve air quality, making the community healthier for all.”
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