Backpacks are packed, new sneakers are laced up, and Florida students are counting down the days until school starts. From Miami to the Panhandle, over 10,000 students will step aboard a whisper-quiet, fully air-conditioned electric school bus (ESB) that represents far more than just a ride to class.

Broward County Schools is one of just a handful of Florida school districts that have started the transition to electric school buses. Florida Transportation Systems (FTS) and FPL, the electric utility serving the county, were integral partners in the school district’s decision to make the shift. At this time, the Broward Schools has taken delivery of 20 of the 60 electric school buses on order.

Worldwide, about 100,000 electric buses are sold annually, 95% of them in China. In the US, Navigant predicts electric buses will account for only 15% of the market by 2025. Even in China, where national policies strongly favor electric transportation, battery operated buses account for only 70% of the total bus market.

This week’s spotlight vehicle is the Chevy Bolt!  At around $37,500, this vehicle has 200 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque.  The car gets approximately 238 miles on a single charge, making it one of the longest range fully electric vehicles.

According to a new study published by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), battery electric buses have lower global warming  than diesel buses everywhere in the country.