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.

The city of Orlando has a sustainability goal of achieving net zero carbon dioxide emissions by the year 2050. As the city’s municipal utility, Orlando Utilities Commission, known as OUC, the Reliable One, announced its intention to meet that goal, as well as interim targets of 50% reduction by 2030 and 75% by 2040.

As businesses increasingly transition to clean vehicle solutions, Miller Electric has positioned itself to help their clients supercharge their infrastructure and offer sustainable solutions that power their customers, fleets, and more.

The Winter Park Natural Resources & Sustainability Department is responsible for the overall operation and management of sustainable initiatives. They recently updated the Sustainability Action Plan (SAP) that was adopted by the city commission in January 2023.

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.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to spend $10.8 million of its Volkswagen settlement money on electric school buses, a larger carve out than any other state.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, there are more that 11 million fleet cars and trucks in the United States. Fleet vehicles regularly cover predictable routes and often return to central depots at night, making them excellent candidates for conversion to electric.

This guide is meant to help fleets and regionally-based buying cooperatives in understanding the benefits of deploying electric vehicles (EVs), as well as EV-specific considerations involved in the procurement process.