First Student, a provider of electrified school transportation in North America, announced it has officially surpassed 3 million miles driven on electric school buses, which is the equivalent of 120 trips around the world.
The milestone comes just eight months after First Student crossed its two-million-mile mark, highlighting the increased adoption of the company's zero-emission student transportation services.
"Three million electric miles driven is an astounding achievement, and it is also just the beginning of a brighter, cleaner, safer future for the students we serve," First Student CEO John Kenning said. "To help students reach their full potential, we need to help districts deploy quieter buses, create safer rides, and deliver cleaner air, not tomorrow but today, and that's just what today's announcement represents."
First Student intends to transition 30,000 diesel school buses to electric by 2035. Moreover, replacing one diesel school bus with an electric school bus helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 54,000 pounds each year.
First Student has deployed more than 330 electric buses to school districts across North America. The company’s fleet is expected to grow to over 1,400 total vehicles by the end of 2024, with an additional 1,108 electric buses approved for order. In total, these electric buses will reduce carbon emissions by 75,600,000 tons.
First Student has also received funding through the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean School Bus Program, which provides $5 billion over five years (2022-2026) for school bus electrification. Additionally, the company helps school districts apply for this funding and has secured nearly $220 million for districts.
