Kent ISD — As a former special education teacher and administrator, Kellie Dean understands the importance of ensuring transportation for students with disabilities is not only safe, but also meets their varying needs.
“The number one concern for many is respiratory issues,” said Dean, CEO of Dean Transportation, a Lansing-based company that partners with school districts and intermediate school districts to provide student transportation for general and special education programs.
“Diesel buses are clean when it comes to emissions, but electric buses are as clean as can be when it comes to emissions,” he said.
Dean, Kent ISD and state officials were on hand Oct. 7 for the unveiling of 10 electric buses that will join Kent ISD’s 179-bus fleet designated to transporting special education students.
In partnership with Kent ISD, Dean Transportation purchased the buses with the help of a $2.1 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program and a $2.3 million grant from the Michigan Department of Education.
Kent ISD Superintendent Ron Gorman said he’s proud to add buses with low emissions to the fleet. Plus, a quieter ride can make the journey to and from school a more soothing experience for students who have disabilities and are sensitive to noise.
Studying Range and Performance
Chris Dean, director of innovation for Dean Transportation, said Kent ISD’s electric buses are currently only being used in the Grandville, Wyoming and Kentwood areas while the company learns more about the vehicles and their range.
The buses are housed at Dean Transportation’s Trade Drive station, which is close to those communities. Part of the grant money was also used to build charging stations at that site, Chris Dean said.
A fully charged electric bus has a range of about 130 to 150 miles, while the average Kent ISD route is about 75 miles, though some exceed 100 miles, he said.
“During the winter months, the range of these buses is less because the cold diminishes the battery,” he said. “We recognize that there are some routes that we may not be able to use these buses on.”
The buses feature different configurations. Some are equipped with wheelchair lifts and others with air conditioning. Chris Dean said variations are intentional and will allow the company to gather data over the next 12 months on how each setup affects vehicle performance and rider experience.
A Smooth Ride
During the event, attendees had the opportunity to take a 10-minute ride in an electric bus.
Several noticed it was much easier to have a conversation. Kent ISD Transportation Supervisor Mark Higgins said he could clearly hear the driver, who was talking in a normal tone, from his seat in the third row.
“You can hear the blinker,” he said.
“I think it’s the loudest part of the bus,” added driver Kimberly Span.
Span said she has enjoyed driving the electric bus because it provides a much smoother ride than a diesel bus.
The buses also have added safety features. Because they are quieter than diesel buses, they are equipped with a chime that sounds when traveling 20 mph or less to alert pedestrians and other motorists to their presence, Chris Dean said.
The electric bus purchase is part of a statewide initiative for Dean Transportation. In partnership with Grand Rapids Public Schools, Dean Transportation added 15 electric buses to that district in the spring. The company now has 45 electric buses operating in Michigan.
Read more from Kent ISD:
• Opening doors: Partnerships bring MEERA labs to area middle schools
• School safety officers sharpen de-escalation skills ahead of new school year
