Wilkes County Schools leads Georgia with Blue Bird electric and propane school bus fleet

Wilkes County Schools (WCS) in Georgia has transitioned to running all 25 of its daily bus routes with zero- and ultra-low-emission school buses. The district has replaced diesel vehicles with 17 electric and propane-powered buses provided by Blue Bird Corporation.

Blue Bird supplied five electric buses and 12 propane-powered buses to WCS. The electric buses, capable of carrying 60 students, have a range of up to 130 miles per charge. On average, schools using electric buses report energy costs of 19 cents per mile, compared to diesel fuel costs of up to 79 cents per mile.

The propane-powered buses can also carry 60 students and travel up to 250 miles on a full tank of propane autogas. These buses produce 96% fewer emissions than diesel buses. The district expects to save up to $3,700 per bus annually in fuel and maintenance costs. Over 15 years, WCS could reduce costs by more than $1.2 million.