Bus2Grid

Electric Buses that Pay You Back

LEARN HOW

Mission

Cleaner Air

Clean the air children breathe in & around school buses

Lower Emissions

Eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from school buses

Green Energy Storage

Supply stored green energy to the grid at peak usage times

Services

Fleet Electrification Planning

We help develop a strategic road map for transitioning to electric school bus fleets, optimizing cost, infrastructure, and environmental impact.

Comprehensive Energy Audits

We conduct thorough assessments of a school's energy usage, identifying opportunities to reduce consumption and integrate electric vehicles efficiently.

V2G Integrations

We implement Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) systems, enabling electric buses to feed energy back to the grid or power school facilities during peak demand.

Consultation & Advisory Services

We provide expert advice on electric vehicle integration, energy systems, and optimizing fleet operations in alignment with district goals.

Engineering Support

We offer technical design and planning for infrastructure upgrades, such as charging stations, to support the deployment of electric school buses.

OEM Liaison Work

We act as a go-between with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to ensure proper vehicle specifications, deliveries, and technical support.

Charging Management

We manage the setup and operation of electric bus charging stations, ensuring efficient charging, route scheduling, and reducing energy costs.

Energy Management

We oversee the coordination of energy use for the entire school district, balancing the demand between transportation and facility operations.

Incentives Management

We help schools identify and apply for available grants, rebates, and other financial incentives for transitioning to electric buses and energy-efficient technologies.

Clean Air Partners

Education & Energy

How Bus2Grid Works

When we consider the developing lung of a child, it's no secret electric school buses are the best option. When considering carbon and other combustible engine emissions, and their effects on climate change, electric school buses win again. The trouble? Upfront costs. This is where Vehicle-to-Grid technology comes in.

A school bus running a 2-hour route before and after school each day runs this route about 180 days each year. It sits still all summer. All told, for 91% of each calendar year, the bus just sits there doing nothing. Schools invest considerable money into these assets. For 91% of the year, they provide ZERO return on investment. Enter the bi-directional electric school bus and charger.

Bidirectional buses and chargers allow electricity to flow both ways. Combine them with software like NUVVE's GIVE Platform and the buses become energy assets when they are not transporting kids. 

How does it all work? 
Each night, during non-peak hours, the charger fills bus batteries with energy. After the morning route, the bus is plugged back in, providing power to the grid while it is not in use. The bus leaves again for the afternoon route with plenty of charge to get kids home from school. It plugs back in upon return and pushes/pulls energy based on the needs of the utility grid. During the summer months, the school bus remains plugged in to stabilize the grid 24/7, becoming an energy asset to the school when not in use.

Leveraging electric school buses as energy assets opens the door to new financing options. New financial packages allow school districts to make monthly or annual payments similar to what they currently spend on traditional diesel school buses. Finally! The air is cleaner. Emissions are less. The cost is the same.

Electric Buses Can Clean Air & Lower Costs

Regular school buses pollute the air our children breathe and contribute to climate change. Electric buses are a cleaner solution, but the upfront cost can be a hurdle. Here's how Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology makes electric buses affordable for schools.

Turn Buses into Money-Savers

School buses typically sit unused for most of the day and all summer. V2G technology lets these electric buses act as giant batteries. At night, they charge up with clean energy. During the day, while not transporting students, they can send that power back to the grid, earning schools money.

Direct Benefits for Your District

Cleaner Air: Electric buses mean cleaner air for students and communities.
Lower Costs: V2G financing allows schools to pay for electric buses like traditional models, with the added benefit of earning money when not in use.

V2G technology makes electric school buses a win-win for schools, the environment, and our children's health.

Typical Energy Cycle

Special chargers and software allow electricity to flow both ways between the bus and the grid.

Night: Buses charge with cheap, off-peak electricity.
Morning: Buses transport students, then plug back in.
Daytime: Unused buses provide power to the grid when needed.
Afternoon: Buses recharge, ready for the afternoon route.

Summer: Buses remain plugged in, stabilizing the grid and earning the school money.

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Impact You Can See

Working Together Illinois Schools Tap into DOE Funding

With Bus2Grid support and guidance, a coalition of 20 Illinois schools  was awarded a portion of the DOE's $178 million fund for microgrid infrastructure projects, demonstrating how communities can work together to build energy resilience.

Challenge: Small Schools with Big Energy Needs

Like many rural schools, Williamsfield School District faced challenges in securing funding for essential infrastructure upgrades. They needed to find a way to improve energy resilience and reduce costs in an environment with limited local resources. The district aimed to address outdated systems while preparing for future energy demands, but lacked the financial capacity to make large-scale changes on their own.

Solution: A Smart Coalition 

In partnership with Bus2Grid and the IEC Powered by Future Green, 20 Illinois school districts (including Williamsfield) worked together to establish LEAs to apply for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Renew America’s Schools program. Through this unified effort, the districts pooled their resources to secure federal funding. The solution included building microgrids in each district, purchasing electric school buses, and incorporating renewable energy sources like solar panels. This approach not only enhanced energy efficiency but also created the opportunity to give back to the grid, generating income and offering energy reliability for the future.

Impact: Empowering School Communities 

DOE Renew America’s Schools

$15M
Secured Funding

Sustainable Energy & Savings

Each district will benefit from microgrids that provide backup power, electric buses that reduce utility costs, and solar panels that generate surplus energy for revenue.

Community Support & Planning

Modernized energy infrastructure helps schools be better positioned to maintain long-term quality and stability. 

Schools will also serve as critical emergency hubs during grid outages, offering services to local communities.  

Williamsfield Schools Lowers Bus Fuel Costs by 94%

Since November 1, 2023, Williamsfield Schools has been running LionC electric buses on all daily routes! As of March 4, 2024, they have logged 22,266 miles and consumed 33,220kWh of electricity to do so. That equates to average usage of 1.49kWh/mile during the cold winter months of November, December, January, and February. Using the district's real diesel fuel costs, if those routes were run with diesel buses, the district would've spent $16,831 on fuel to run those routes.
Williamsfield Schools

Challenge: How Can a Small School Access Clean Energy Savings?

Utilizing the Bus2Grid approach of including onsite solar in the equation, Williamsfield Schools spent an estimated $913 on the electricity needed to run those routes. That's an amazing 94% reduction in bus fuel costs! And that's only the beginning. Williamsfield Schools is poised to save even more money when they fully activate the Vehicle-to-Grid technology in their chargers and buses. We can't wait to see their project evolve!

Cost Reduction

94%
Transportation Cost Savings

Clean Energy

 

Future Electricity Storage & Savings 

 

Bus2Grid Electric School Bus (ESB) Bid Results

Winter 2021 ESB Results

In January 2021, B2G conducted an ESB procurement process in anticipation of securing an EPA DERA award. Pricing per Type C 72-passenger ESB in compliance with Illinois school bus standards was requested. The following is an abbreviated list of requirements.

Estimated Requirements

Bidirectional energy flow

At least 120 miles of range per charge

Integration with NUVVE's GIVe Platform

Estimated Requirements

2022 BlueBird Vision (Central States Bus Sales) - $326,810 base bid (additional $55,300 charger cost implied)

2022 IC-Bus (Midwest Transit Equipment) - $355,632 base bid (additional $18,000 charger cost listed)

2021 Lion C (Lion Electric) - $369,479 base bid (additional $55,300 charger cost listed)

2022 Thomas Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley (Midwest Bus Sales) - $335,287 (additional $43,500 charger cost listed)

Renewable Energy Maps

The Bus2Grid Initiative supports renewable energy production projects by leveraging electric school bus batteries for intermittent storage. This is especially true during summer months when sunshine is plentiful, electricity is in demand, and school buses sit relatively still. 

The maps below indicate the prevalence of renewable energy production in various parts of the United States. Our focus is to support this production with innovative opportunities to store and deploy renewable energy at the local level.

Illinois Solar Installs

New York Solar Installs

Bus2Grid Events

Recent Events

Powering the Future: Discover the Advantages of Electric School Buses

Examine fleet electrification solutions, economic benefits, and health implications

Introduction to Federal IRA Tax Credits for Electric School Buses (ESB)

Educational session with the Electric Bus Initiative about new clean vehicle credits and alternative fuel refueling credits.

Upcoming Events

New webinars and sessions are being scheduled.
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