- OUSD launched the first 100% electric school bus fleet in the U.S., with 74 buses equipped with V2G technology.
- The fleet will return 2.1 gigawatt hours of energy to the grid annually via an AI-managed Virtual Power Plant.
- This transition will eliminate 25,000 metric tons of greenhouse gasses, improving air quality in Oakland.
Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) has partnered with Zūm to introduce the nation’s first fully electric school bus fleet. This initiative goes beyond upgrading technology—it’s a clear commitment to the well-being of our communities, our children, and the environment.
With student transportation being the largest mass transit system in the U.S., carrying 27 million students every day, this transition is long overdue. Currently, over 90% of the 500,000 school buses in the country still run on fossil fuels. This new electric fleet is a crucial step toward lowering harmful emissions and offering your students, your kids, cleaner, safer transportation.
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Oakland Schools Transition to Electric Buses, Improving Air Quality and Student Health
For decades, diesel school buses have been a source of toxic emissions, contributing to over 8.4 million tons of greenhouse gasses each year. This reality has disproportionately impacted communities like Oakland, where children have been particularly vulnerable to respiratory ailments such as asthma due to poor air quality. The introduction of 74 electric school buses to OUSD’s fleet modernizes transportation and also improves the health and well-being of the entire community.
“OUSD is proud to lead the way with safe and sustainable transportation for our students,” stated Dr. Kyla Johnson-Trammell, Superintendent of Oakland Unified School District. “This is a landmark achievement, especially in Oakland, where families are disproportionately impacted by exposure to air pollution and high rates of asthma and other respiratory ailments.”
The benefits of these new electric buses go beyond cutting emissions. You’ll notice the difference right away—quieter, smoother rides that make the daily commute to school more comfortable. Gone are the days of enduring the loud, rumbling engines of diesel buses. Instead, students will start their school day in a peaceful, less stressful environment.
As Dr. Johnson-Trammell highlights, “Zum’s electric school buses provide our students quieter, cleaner rides to and from school, giving them a better chance at success in the classroom, while ensuring the District is doing its part to cut down on air pollution to the benefit of all Oakland residents.”
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V2G Technology: Powering the Future, One School Bus at a Time
The real innovation here is the use of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology. Each of the 74 electric school buses comes with a bidirectional charger, which means they can both draw power and send energy back to the grid when they’re not in use. This system is managed by an AI-enabled Virtual Power Plant (VPP), which is to reduce carbon emissions in student transportation while returning 2.1 gigawatt hours of energy to the grid each year—enough to power hundreds of homes.
“Electric school buses with V2G capability create cleaner transportation and send untapped energy from bus batteries back to the grid. It’s a win-win for children, families, schools, and drivers,” mentioned Ritu Narayan, Founder and CEO of Zum. By using the energy stored in these buses, the Oakland community is helping to build a stronger and more sustainable energy system.
A Collaborative Effort with Nationwide Implications
This program’s success wouldn’t have been possible without the collaboration of key partners. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) was crucial, upgrading the infrastructure and supplying the needed power to run the fleet.
“Our partnership with Zum and Oakland Unified on its fully electric school bus fleet is a blueprint for schools across California and the nation to better serve our students, local communities, and, ultimately, our planet,” commented PG&E Corporation CEO Patti Poppe.
Additionally, funding from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean School Bus program, California Air Resources Board (CARB), and other local programs have been instrumental in bringing this vision to life. These efforts are part of a broader movement towards electrifying school buses nationwide, driven by the undeniable benefits of cleaner air, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and a healthier environment for our children.
“With funding to Zum of over $35 million for California school districts, EPA is proud to be advancing the rollout of electric school buses here in Oakland and across our state, helping create a future where our children can breathe cleaner air,” stated Cheree Peterson, EPA Pacific Southwest Deputy Regional Administrator.
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The Road Ahead: A National Movement Towards Electrification
Zum’s success in Oakland is just the beginning. The company has set an ambitious goal to electrify 10,000 bidirectional school buses across the country, potentially supplying 300 gigawatt hours of energy to local power grids annually. As more districts across the nation look to Oakland’s example, the transition to electric school buses could become a defining moment in the fight against climate change.
Switching to electric school buses is an investment in our children’s future and the well-being of our communities. By moving away from diesel, we’re choosing a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable environment for future generations.
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IMAGES: ZŪM
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