Concord board approves chargers and awards installation contract as district moves toward electric buses

The Concord School District Board on June 25 authorized up to $240,000 from the school building maintenance fund to fund purchase and installation of electric school-bus chargers and awarded an installation contract to Longchamps Electric for up to $200,000. The board also approved a related transfer of $59,576 to fund chargers using available local funds; the district said an awarded grant for the buses has been approved but that the grant funds have not yet been received.

Why it matters: the district is preparing to receive three electric buses and must install the charging infrastructure at the Combined Operations Maintenance Facility (COMP), which the city owns and the district leases space in. Staff said delays in infrastructure work would likely push installation into next summer, preventing bus operation if the vehicles arrive in December or January.

Technical and operational details: staff described plans to install two 60‑kilowatt charging units (dual‑plug configuration, for four plugs) capable of providing 60 kilowatts per unit (30 kW per plug when two buses charge on one unit). The presenter noted that many school buses and chargers remain early‑generation technology and raised operational concerns including charger‑to‑bus "handshake" behavior after power interruptions, winter performance with lower available kilowatts, battery degradation over time and maintenance of network equipment (filters, fans). Staff described a need to reduce some facility energy feeds from 480 volts to 120 volts to support network switches and raised the possibility of using an adapter flange to allow future charger replacement without changing the concrete pad.

Contracting and finance: contractors were solicited and two bids were reviewed; the board found Longchamps Electric acceptable and awarded the installation contract up to $200,000. The board approved the $240,000 appropriation motion 7–1, and the contract award passed with an affirmative voice vote. The district plans to finalize plans and place orders once grant funds arrive; administration said it will not begin major spending until the grant funding is in hand but noted scheduling constraints could require moving forward with infrastructure this summer to meet fall operations.

Quotes: the staff presenter said, "Electric buses are definitely in their infancy," describing field visits to other New England sites and operational learning curves. In reference to bus range, staff said the buses are expected to get "about a 140 or a 150 in warm weather and probably 70 to 80 miles in cold weather." The presenter also said visits showed a need for flexible conduit and equipment mounts so chargers can be replaced as technology evolves.

Ending: The board’s approvals allow the district to finalize vendor arrangements and begin preparatory site work contingent on grant receipt and contractor scheduling; staff said they will return with final construction plans and timing.