CVUSD Receives New Electric School Buses
Castro Valley schools are taking another step towards reducing carbon emissions, protecting student and staff health, and lowering their carbon footprint.
Last Thursday, Castro Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) leaders announced the district received two new zero-emission (ZEV) school buses. The buses are the first two zero-emission electric buses within its 12-bus fleet. They are part of a larger strategy to electrify all school district vehicles over the next 10 years.
The district received the buses through a $1.1 million grant awarded by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s (BAAQMD) School Bus Replacement and Infrastructure Program.
The new buses replaced two aging diesel buses in the fleet. Facility staff plans to launch the new buses on west side routes with fewer hills as they familiarize themselves with their range and power.
“The purchase of the new zero-emission buses is an exciting step forward in environmental sustainability and reducing overall fuel costs,” said Parvin Ahmadi, CVUSD Superintendent. “As a district, we are fully committed to reducing our carbon footprint and improving students’ health and well-being at the same time.”
Castro Valley Unified purchased the two 56-passenger Blue Bird electric school buses through authorized school bus dealer A-Z Bus Sales in Sacramento.
The awarded BAAQMD grant also provided funds to install two Level 2 fast charging stations at Canyon Middle School. The district is working with PG&E and an electrical contractor to update the bus yard’s power infrastructure to eventually have the capacity to charge up to 20 zero-emission buses and its white-colored fleet vehicles.
Phase One of the charging infrastructure project at Canyon—installing the two charging stations—is expected to be completed in late spring 2025.