Electric Bus Fleet Transition Complete in Angola, N.Y.

Thanks in part to funding provided by National Grid’s Medium and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Make-Ready Pilot Program, Lake Shore Central School District cut the ribbon on 20 brand-new electric school buses.

“We stacked every available funding stream,” said Lake Shore Superintendent Daniel Pacos at a June 30 event to celebrate the additions to the district's fleet. “The process was a true team effort; National Grid committed early on to bringing power to our bus lot.”

The $10.5 million project was also aided by a $7.9 million grant from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is one of the largest single-district electric bus deployments in New York State. The district also installed 24 charging ports at its Angola, N.Y. bus garage. According to Lake Shore estimates, the inititiave required less than $50,000 in local district spending.

“This project represents years of planning, collaboration, and commitment to innovation,” said Pacos. “We’ve replaced nearly half of our fleet with zero-emission buses — at virtually no cost to local taxpayers. These new buses will provide a quieter, healthier, and more efficient ride for our students while reducing emissions in our community.”

“It's always gratifying to see the completion of such an innovative, impressive project at Lake Shore Central School District, which is at the forefront of the electric school bus transition in Western New York,” said National Grid Regional Director Ken Kujawa.

Pacos said that representatives of the nearby West Seneca school district recently visited to learn about their process, and that Lake Shore has hosted regional sessions to showcase the infrastructure and technology.

“This isn’t just about new buses,” he said. “It’s about paving the way forward for other districts.”