PPS Unveils First All-Electric School Buses

Portland Public Schools (PPS) showcased its first two electric school buses yesterday at Northeast Portland’s McDaniel High School. These buses embody the district’s commitment to develop an all-electric fleet and to reach net zero emissions by 2040. These goals are included in its Climate Crisis Response Policy, for which the district will receive a 2023 National School Board Association’s Magna Award.

"Our school system is steadfast in our commitment to ensure we respond to the climate crisis,”

said PPS Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero. “With the support and collaboration of key partners, we are now taking concrete steps towards making us a more sustainable organization by starting to electrify our school bus fleet.”

The buses will go into service as soon as possible and a third vehicle will arrive at PPS this summer.  In addition to providing cleaner air, the quietness of the buses will significantly reduce noise pollution and make communicating with students much safer for drivers.

GreenPower, the company that built the buses, says they set the new standard for zero emissions student transport. “We are proud to deliver the first Nano BEASTs to Portland Public Schools, making them the first district in Oregon to receive a purpose-built Type A all-electric school bus,” said Michael Perez, Vice President of School Bus, Contracts and Grants at GreenPower.   

(Photo/ PPS)

Partners for cleaner transportation

The purchase was made possible in part by a donation from Pacific Power, along with significant funds from Portland General Electric’s (PGE) Electric School Bus Fund, which is funded via the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Clean Fuels Program.

“Portland General Electric is excited to award funds from DEQ's Oregon Clean Fuels Program to support our partners in expanding cleaner transportation systems across the state,” said Elyssia Lawrence, Senior Manager, Product Manager and head of PGE’s Transportation Electrification team. “Transportation electrification plays an essential role in accelerating the clean energy transition. It is going to take all of us working together to achieve a cleaner and more equitable future for all Oregonians.”