OCSD receives new electric bus fleet thanks to EPA grant
ORANGEBURG, SC (WOLO) — Soon, 168 new buses will be hitting South Carolina roads.
The Biden administration, through an EPA grant, has invested 65 million dollars into electric buses right here in the Palmetto State.
By land area, Orangeburg County is the second largest in South Carolina.
“We travel 1.3 million miles annually transporting 78 percent of the students in this school district,” said Dr. Shawn Foster, Orangeburg County School District superintendent.
That’s more than 8,000 students riding the bus every day.
“The diesel exhaust from these buses can cause lung damage, aggravate asthma and exacerbate other health issues for children and bus drivers transporting them,” said EPA administrator Michael Regan.
Orangeburg County School District is receiving 20 new electric school buses to add to their fleet.
“This is just an additional step to ensure a complete educational experience,” Dr. Foster said. “The ride to and from school should be just as comfortable and clean as our buildings.”
School district staff and students rode along with Congressman Jim Clyburn for a test drive of one of the new electric buses at Marshall Elementary School.
“It is one thing to be able to get to where you’re going on time. It is one thing to get there safely,” Clyburn said. “It is something else to have a healthy ride as you go home. That’s what we’re trying to do.”
“The ride on the electric bus was great. Driving one is great,” said bus driver Aaron Garcia. “Honestly, it takes a bit of adjusting to get used to the quiet start compared to the diesel buses.”
“With the addition of these 20 buses, we will only have 17 buses older than 10 years old in this school district,” Foster said. “That’s tremendous.”
Orangeburg County School District hopes to have the electric charging stations completed by the end of this week so the electric buses can get up and running.
