The Michigan Clean Air Assistance Program through the state Department of Environment, Great Lakes
and Energy announced last fall the funding of 138 electric school buses to 25 Michigan public schools
and districts. This is the largest influx since September 2019, when 17 electric buses replaced diesel ones,
along with the addition of charging stations in seven districts.
Additionally, Dean Transportation received a $157,500 grant from EGLE to purchase its first electric
school bus, replacing a diesel school bus in the Cadillac Area Public Schools fleet this year. Matching
funds from Dean and Consumers Energy also will be put toward the purchase.
For Dean, this project marks the beginning of long-term change as it relates to electrification in school
transportation. The company is working on proper routing for the bus based on the battery range, which is
roughly 120 miles. Factors like weather and temperature also influence battery life.
“The industry is so new, and things don’t always work as perfectly as they’re engineered to or as we
think they would,” said Christopher Dean, director of innovation for Dean Transportation. “It’s
important for us to understand exactly how these units operate, for the benefit of our school district
partners. So, as we move forward and deploy additional units, we know exactly what to expect, how
they are going to operate, and how best we can use them in the state of Michigan.”
The MI Healthy Climate Plan calls for the state to add infrastructure to support 2 million electric vehicles
on Michigan roads by 2030 and to increase access to clean transportation by 15% annually. School buses
collectively form America’s largest transportation system.
For more information on Dean’s environmental efforts along with details on its products and services,
visit the Dean Transportation website.
VIP Focus articles are company-sponsored advertisements and do not necessarily reflect the views or
positions of MASB. It’s intended to provide Very Important Partners with a space to share information of
value to you and your district.
