GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - Gridley Unified School District gets ready to debut the first of four electric school buses that the district hopes to have in circulation by March of 2021.

The district took ownership of their first electric bus in February of this year and pending the outcome of a detailed inspection by California Highway Patrol, had planned to have it on the road as early as this week. The precautionary school closures dues to the COVID-29 pandemic has ultimately pushed that maiden voyage back, but the district is excited to add this green machine to its fleet.

This electric bus actually came to the district via the State and Department of Education’s creation of resources for those impacted by the Camp Fire. Many may remember that a condition of temporary FEMA Camp Fire housing being located in Gridley required GUSD to be responsible for the transportation of relocated students to surrounding campuses for educational needs if they chose not to attend Gridley schools. Superintendent Jordan Reeves said that “When we had concerns with regards to influx of students coming to Gridley... They moved us to the front of the line (for resources) because of the potential needs we might have had.”  Of the resources available, there was an electric bus.

Gridley Unified has also received a grant through the State in the total of $1.6 million dollars for 3 additional buses which they anticipate adding to the fleet in February of 2021. The electric buses run $400,000.00 a piece, but the initial cost is outweighed by the benefits of going electric. Per GUSD Mechanic Chris Woodward, the electric buses require reduced amounts of fluid for operation and he estimates that overall maintenance costs will be reduced 25 percent in comparison to the other buses in the fleet.

Director of Transportation and Maintenance for GUSD, Kim Parks, feels that the new electric bus “is really an improvement… just the green type of effect it is going to have on our environment here in Gridley is going to be fantastic.”

Parks continues, “It promotes minimizing our carbon footprint. Plus, as far as the amount of miles per electricity it uses compared to diesel it’s going to be much, much less expensive.” GUSD already has one charging station installed and plans to have additional terminals at the ready by February of 2021.

The Electric Blue Bird Bus is the first of Gridley’s fleet to have LED lighting throughout the cabin, multiple cameras inside and out, features seatbelts and has storage areas located under the seats (at least in the front rows). It is virtually silent running, can travel 120 miles on one charge and takes a total of 8 hours to fully charge its battery from completely drained.

For a glimpse of GUSD’s electric bus, keep an eye out for the mark of a green plug/bird above the driver’s window and doors – but look quick because you won’t hear it coming!