V2G School Buses for Michigan Public School Pilot

The Lion Electric Co. USA (Lion) is proud to announce that 11 of our electric school buses will be part of the Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation Electric School Bus Pilot Project.  This marks the first school buses supported with Volkswagen settlement funds allocated to Michigan and administered by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.  Zeeland Public Schools, Oxford Community Schools, Kalamazoo Public Schools, Gaylord Community Schools and Three Rivers Community Schools are the Michigan districts that will purchase all-electric LionC’ school buses. These zero-emission school buses will be on Michigan roads as soon as Fall 2019.

Zeeland Public Schools, Oxford Community Schools, Kalamazoo Public Schools, Gaylord Community Schools and Three Rivers Community Schools will receive 125-mile range buses with a capacity of 71 passengers. The buses will also be vehicle-to-grid enabled. This means that the previously stated districts will be able to return unused energy from the on-board batteries to the grid during peak periods of energy use. This functionality is intended to allow bi-directional flow of electric power that can power school sites as well as emergency shelters.

About the 2019 MAPT Electric School Bus Pilot Project Bid

The goal of the Program is to reduce GHG emissions and improve air quality inside school buses, where the buses idle, and along roadways where the buses travel. This program specifically focuses on children who are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of diesel emissions and who live in regions designated as air quality priority areas.