LAUSD’s school bus electrification program

Steering into a sustainable future

BY BARON KIM

THE MIRROR STAFF

The landscape of student transportation is undergoing a transformative change in the LAUSD. Spearheaded by the district’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility, the recent initiatives to electrify its bus fleet stands as a testament to a brighter, greener future for L.A. students and communities.

In an exclusive interview, Mr. Daniel Kang, Director of Transport at LAUSD, sheds light on the groundbreaking endeavor.

"This is for all of the students, all the way down to Universal TK," Kang said. "This is for our future, and I believe that I am a steward of this responsibility of making LAUSD and our local communities much safer and livable for our future."

In tune with LAUSD's Strategic Plan for 2022-26, led by Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho, the district has initiated the installation of 18 new electric school bus chargers at the Gardena Bus Yard. This is part of a broader strategy to adopt sustainable modes of transportation, keeping in line with the district's resolution to achieve 100 percent clean, renewable energy in its electricity sector by 2030 and in all energy sectors by 2040.

Kang emphasized the utility of the newly installed chargers.

"The theory is that school buses will be plugged into the grid and provide that power back to the local community, which gives the school district an opportunity to bring revenue in," he said.

Historically, the Gardena Bus Yard has been the district's largest transportation hub, serving over 8,672 students across 296 schools with 371 buses. Of these, 270 buses are powered by compressed natural gas and 75 by propane.

The move to introduce electric chargers is a radical shift, and the district plans to go further by committing to complete electrification of the Sun Valley Bus Yard by 2026 with the addition of 180 new electric buses and chargers.

"We're up for the challenge and we don't want to sit back and wait, we have to get ahead of the game,” Kang said. “Even though this is considered a new frontier, we have a lot of motivated leaders inside the district such as our nationally renowned facilities director Christos Chrysiliou.”

These changes not only promote districtwide sustainable practices but also provide benefits for students who rely on school buses for transportation.

“The buses are quieter and there's less vibration, so it's a much more pleasant ride for the students who take the bus,” Kang said. He emphasizes the direct effects that new electric buses could have on students.

“We need all your support, your continued support, and even the questions and motivations from our elementary students. It counts, and it matters,” Kang said, highlighting his belief in the community's role, down to the youngest of its members, in fostering a sustainable future.

Furthermore, Kang underscored the often-overlooked influence of younger generations in bringing about change.

“Children do have an impact, even in their homes and even in their schools,” Kang said. “We need their motivation. At the end of the day, they are our customers, and that's who we're doing this for.”