New Orleans students are now riding 42 electric school buses deployed by InspireNOLA Charter Schools, the largest electric school-bus rollout in Louisiana. The IC Bus Type C vehicles are serving more than 3,000 students on multiple daily routes, replacing a significant portion of the network’s diesel fleet.
According to InspireNOLA Charter Schools, the 42 buses are operated by A&S Transportation and supported through Highland Electric Fleets’ Electrification-as-a-Service model. The network says the fleet covers 58 daily routes and racks up more than 3,400 miles a day while keeping service levels in line with the old diesel setup. All of the new rides are IC Bus Type C electric models, the network noted.
Charging depot and capacity
The electric fleet plugs in at a dedicated depot on Industrial Parkway that was built to keep buses ready for those early morning runs. The site is equipped with seven Kempower C800 power cabinets that feed 52 charging ports through satellite dispensers. As reported by NOLA.com, the depot’s address is 4099 Industrial Parkway. The layout is designed primarily for overnight charging so the buses can stay on the road during the school day instead of sitting on chargers.
How the project was paid for
InspireNOLA says the project was funded in part by awards from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program and by available federal tax credits, according to PR Newswire. The EPA’s Clean School Bus Program provides 5 billion dollars over five years to help districts replace diesel buses, according to the agency. Local officials say tapping those incentives helped the charter network avoid large upfront capital costs that might have otherwise stalled the project.
Why officials say it matters
“Electric school buses help reduce students’ exposure to diesel exhaust during their daily commute,” Brian Buccella, chief commercial officer at Highland Electric Fleets, said in a statement to PR Newswire. A&S Transportation’s Wayne Skinner added that the buses deliver a quieter, more comfortable ride that helps students show up ready to learn instead of worn out from the trip. School leaders also emphasize that Highland’s service model allowed the network to deploy the fleet without additional upfront capital costs, which made the shift financially viable.
National context and caution
Highland Electric Fleets has played a similar role in major electric bus rollouts around the country, but that track record is not without headaches. The Washington Post reported that Montgomery County’s electrification contract with Highland and related entities ran into delivery delays and oversight problems that eventually led state officials to reverse the district’s contract. City and education officials in New Orleans say they are watching operations closely in light of those issues, with reliability for students’ daily commutes at the top of the priority list.
For families, the shift is already noticeable. InspireNOLA leaders and local parents have described quieter rides and fewer fumes on the morning and afternoon runs, a quality-of-life upgrade for students and drivers alike. Local coverage by NOLA.com notes that the electric fleet now provides daily transportation for more than 3,000 students across InspireNOLA schools. Officials say they plan to keep a close eye on performance and costs as electric school-bus programs continue to grow across Louisiana.
