‘Mustard on ice cream’: District celebrates new fleet of electric school buses

Timing is everything for West Aurora Unit District 129’s new fleet of electric school buses.

Not only are the 27 battery-operated buses greener and less noisy than traditional models, they also qualified for thousands of dollars in federal funding that has been discontinued.

School officials marked the evolution, which transforms about one-third of their fleet, with a celebration Monday at the district’s transportation center in North Aurora.

Flanked by rows of bright yellow buses manufactured by Georgia-based Blue Bird Corp., Transportation Director Brandy Kackert described the innovation as “mustard on ice cream.”

“We’re excited to be pioneers of this undertaking in the Fox Valley,” she said. Mustard represents “the uncertainty and the trepidation that would come with trying something brand new.” Ice cream refers to the benefits the buses will provide with “quiet rides, cleaner air, and a better experience for students and drivers.”

The buses began deploying in early October, and “driver feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,” Kackert noted.

The buses aren’t the only environmentally friendly initiative at the district, Associate Superintendent of Operations Angie Smith said. There are 11 buildings with geothermal and nine with solar sources of energy, plus EVs used for driver’s education.

In the near future, the electric buses will be equipped with solar panels to help power themselves.

“It’s another step in our journey,” Smith said. Officials said the district is unique in the state in its sheer volume of electric buses.

Typically, electric buses can cost $300,000 and higher, but District 129 is paying about $90,000.

That’s because the district received a $5.5 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and is getting tax credits of roughly $40,000 per vehicle. ComEd also contributed a $930,000 rebate check.

Federal tax credits for electric buses have been phased out and it’s not clear about future grants.

“It’s difficult for other districts that want to replicate what we’re doing — those tax credits don’t exist anymore,” Smith said. “Hopefully, the federal government and the EPA will see how successful this is.

“It’s good for the environment, good for taxpayers and good for students.”

Behind the wheel of one of the new buses was Rita Medina, the district’s safety and training coordinator.

“It rides good, it’s smoother,” she said.

Out of about 850 school districts in Illinois, 83 have received funding for electric school buses from various state and federal sources and ComEd, the Environmental Law and Policy Center reported.

Tax credits are still available through June 2026 for charging infrastructure, Senior Policy Advocate Susan Mudd said.

The district partnered with Highland Electric Fleets, ComEd, Central States Bus Sales, and Grand Kahn Electric on the EV project.