Board hears fleet study: 3 of 7 regular bus runs could be electrified, but chargers and costs remain hurdles

A fleet study presented during the Hamilton Central School District board meeting on May 21 found that three of the district’s seven regular bus runs could be served by electric buses with today’s technology, but infrastructure and cost questions remain.

The business/operations presenter (Matt) told the board the initial analysis looked at the district’s seven regular runs — five in‑district and two out‑of‑district — and concluded that three in‑district routes could be electrified now. "Three of those seven, and it’s 3 of the 5 internal runs, could be electrified with what’s available with today's technology," Matt said.

The study recommends installing level‑3 chargers for the routes identified as electrifiable. A level‑2 charger is the type commonly used for personal electric vehicles; the study flagged level‑3 equipment as the operational requirement for school‑bus duty cycles. Matt also said the district is on a NYSERDA list that could open funding opportunities to offset studies and purchases.

Board members questioned which runs were feasible (the presenters said out‑of‑district and the longest, hilliest runs would not be suitable for current electric bus ranges) and how extracurricular trips and BOCES runs would be handled. "Those out‑of‑district runs obviously are not," Matt said of the two longer trips; he added that sporting events and field trips complicate electrification because of longer distances and recharge requirements.

On cost, the presenter cited recent quote figures from earlier in the year: "the quote for a full‑size 70‑passenger electric bus was about 450 something thousand dollars," and said smaller vehicles’ quotes were also provided. He cautioned that those figures were from earlier vendor quotes and that the total cost picture must include charger installation and electrical upgrades.

Next steps identified at the meeting include a phase‑2 process: detailed infrastructure planning, conversations with the village about service and potential shared charging, and continuing to document the district’s work for grant or bond opportunities. The presenter said the district would post the initial study on its website and continue outreach to regional partners.

The board did not vote on procurement at the meeting; members framed the item as an ongoing planning process with technical, fiscal and scheduling decisions to follow.