CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As students head back to school, some in North Carolina are taking a cleaner and quieter ride to class. 

What You Need To Know

  •   Several school districts are participating in a state-funded pilot program that aims to get electric school buses on the road

  •   Cabarrus County Schools has one of three electric school buses in the state

  •   In addition to reducing maintenance costs, the electric school bus also provides cleaner energy and healthier air for drivers and students

Several school districts are participating in a state-funded pilot program that aims to get electric school buses on the road.

Matthew Hurlocker, assistant director at Cabarrus County Schools’ Transportation Department, said his district has one of three electric school buses in the state.

“The technology that’s progressed in electric school buses is absolutely fantastic,” Hurlocker said. “And I never dreamed we’d be to this level this quickly.”

The bus and its charging station costs the district nothing, since it’s taking part in the pilot program. Money for the program comes from North Carolina's $30-million share of a settlement with Volkswagen.

Hurlocker said a new electric bus and charger can range around $400,000, that’s compared to about $110,000 it costs for a diesel bus.

“But the maintenance on [an electric school bus] decreased significantly from a diesel bus,” Hurlocker said. “You don’t have the oil changes, you don’t have the fuel filters, and you don’t have all that stuff you got to do every 5,000 miles.”

In addition to reducing maintenance costs, the bus also provides cleaner energy and healthier air for drivers and students riding it.

Hurlocker said the electric bus can drive about 138 miles on one charge, and it can re-charge in about 2 to 3 hours.

“We plan on keeping the bus inner city, for the most part, just because it gives us the best regenerative breaking,” Hurlocker said. “Which is the bus recharging every time you slow down, or stop, you’ll have more stops in the city.”

As the district continues to test out the future of traveling to school, Hurlocker said so far, he’s impressed.

“Compared to a normal bus, this is so quiet,” Hurlocker said.

Hurlocker also thinks electric buses can be good for the Cabarrus County community.

“We’re a member of this community and a larger employer for the community, so we want to provide the cleanest energy possible,” Hurlocker said. “The cleanest environment possible for our students and members of the community around us and this does that.”

The NC Volkswagen Settlement Program aims to fund 161 new school buses, with most of the money going toward electric buses.

So far, Rowan-Salisbury and Randolph County schools have also received an electric school bus.

Cabarrus County is expecting a second electric bus soon, according to Hurlocker.