![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/First-Student_ConEdison-Brooklyn.jpeg\")
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Photo Credit: First Student<\/p>\n
New York City is expanding its electric school bus fleet after a pilot project found that a simpler charging setup could cut infrastructure costs by 20%, according to Electrek<\/a>.<\/p>\n The move will add 40 electric school buses for NYC Public Schools in Brooklyn and Queens while offering a potential model for other dense cities looking to electrify large fleets without major construction work or soaring installation costs.<\/p>\n Here’s what to know<\/p>\n Their rollout builds on a Con Edison demonstration that explored a less disruptive way to install charging equipment in dense urban settings.<\/p>\n A key part of that effort was First Charge, First Student’s above-ground charging system.\u00a0<\/p>\n By running electrical lines overhead rather than burying them in trenches, the setup reduces construction in paved bus yards, speeds installation, and cuts infrastructure costs by 20%.<\/p>\n Vicki Kuo, senior vice president of Customer Energy Solutions at Con Edison, addressed the initiative’s specifics.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Eliminating the need to bury the service line to these chargers lowers the upfront costs for First Student and is a strategy that other fleet owners can replicate to save money<\/a> and complete projects more quickly,” she explained.<\/p>\n More background<\/p>\n Con Edison and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority also supported the pilot.\u00a0<\/p>\n Through NYSERDA’s New York School Bus Incentive Program, the project received six electric school bus vouchers, along with support to convert four diesel buses to electric.<\/p>\n The move also fits into New York State’s zero-emission transportation timeline.\u00a0<\/p>\n State rules require newly purchased school buses to be zero-emission by 2027, and the full fleet must meet that standard by 2035.<\/p>\n For students, families, and surrounding communities, that means quieter streets, cleaner air near schools, and less exposure to diesel tailpipe pollution.<\/p>\n What’s being done?<\/p>\n To manage charging, First Student is using load-management software that schedules buses to charge during off-peak periods, when electricity is usually cheaper.\u00a0<\/p>\n For a large fleet, that planning can help control energy costs and reduce strain on the grid.<\/p>\n First Student is also considering additional clean energy features for its Brooklyn facilities, including solar power and a smart energy hub.<\/p>\n Installing workable charging infrastructure remains one of the biggest challenges in fleet electrification, separate from purchasing the vehicles themselves.\u00a0<\/p>\n In dense cities, where excavation can be costly and disruptive, overhead charging systems can help schools, transit agencies, and private fleets move ahead faster.<\/p>\n “Deploying electric school buses at scale requires more than vehicles; it requires the right infrastructure, technology, and utility partnership,” said Kevin Matthews, head of electrification at First Student.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Working with Con Edison, we’ve demonstrated a more efficient approach that can help overcome some of the cost and construction challenges that have traditionally made fleet electrification difficult in dense urban environments,” he added.<\/p>\n Where can I learn more?<\/p>\n These articles on electric school bus costs and EV incentives show how widespread electrification efforts are taking shape nationwide.<\/p>\n \u2022 Across the U.S., orders for electric school buses<\/a> rose tenfold since early last year.<\/p>\n \u2022 School districts can see lifetime savings of up to $173,000<\/a> per electric bus.<\/p>\n \u2022 Many EV owners say cheap charging and lower maintenance<\/a> prompted them to switch.<\/p>\n \u2022 Los Angeles will offer an extra $4,000 to help low-income residents buy EVs<\/a>.<\/p>\n Taken together, they illustrate a gradual shift away from gas-powered transportation and how policy initiatives can facilitate the switch.<\/p>\n Get TCD’s free newsletters<\/a> for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\t![\"Cool](\"https:\/\/www.thecooldown.com\/wp-content\/themes\/tcd\/assets\/images\/divider-icon-earth.svg\"){kind=icon}
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