Electric school buses on the radar of UGDSB

The Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) has begun discussing electric vehicles and how they could be implemented within the board.

The current school bus fleet and electric buses were a new topic of discussion at the Tuesday finance and facilities committee meeting.

“I’d like to move that the staff look into and provide a report back to us on school buses and fleet of vehicles,” said trustee Kenn Manzerole, who put forth the motion. 

The motion was carried.

The report on electric vehicles is more of a placeholder at this time since it was asked at another meeting to bring it finance and facilities, said Glen Regier, superintendent of finance at UGDSB.

“It’s really an opportunity to bring this topic to finance and facilities. And really ask staff for direction as far as what information we can provide for future discussions,” said Regier.

Cost, viability, availability and program support are things to look into the future, said Regier.

Trustee Jen Edwards asked if there was any information about a pilot project for electric buses like what Toronto is doing. There wasn’t an answer at this time.

“Buses are generally kept for seven years,” said Edwards. She asked how many buses are turned over.

There is also a 50 per cent rebate for electric buses right now in the province, she said.

Regier said they will go back to the consortium which deals with bus providers to help identify the current bus fleet and what would be needed in a transition period.

“Even the buses running outside the school while they are waiting to load up, all those fumes. And there are more fumes in the bus than there are outside the bus,” said Edwards.

“Definitely we’ve seen a trend of electric vehicles in general. So it would be, how is that progressing for school buses?” said Regier.