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The latest edition of the 802 Ed newsletter features news of interest to Vermont educators and parents, including an eye-opening WCAX report that a large Vermont school district has abandoned its electric school buses after the battery of an Ontario school bus produced by the same builder caught on fire.
According to Cleantrucking.com, on January 13, 2025 the Huntsville, Ontario school bus built by Lion Electric of Quebec was packed with students when the driver began to notice problems. He ordered the kids off the bus. No-one was hurt. The bus became fully engulfed afterwards.
Lion Electric of Quebec had filed for bankruptcy in December, 2024.
The 802 Ed newsletter is published monthly by Steven Berbeco. The May issue features these headlines and snippets:
Vouchers, Federal Style. NPR reports on a recent proposal by the federal administration to initiate a nation-wide school voucher system.
Bye, Electric Buses. WCAX investigates why a school district bought electric buses and then decided against using them after all.
“Rushed, Opaque, and Unprofessional.” Seven Days VT sends up a signal flare about how school closings may happen in the future, by focusing on the experience of a community experiencing a cost-cutting measure.
More Inclusivity, Please. The Brattleboro Informer informs us about a school board that has requested AOE include at least one BIPOC member on its Harassment, Hazing and Bullying Prevention Advisory Council.
“Kick in The Gut.” Valley News highlights a Vermont district that is trying to tackle PCB remediation through local funding, in an environment where the state says: “If (schools) want to move forward with the sampling, they can conduct it on their own.”
Science of Reading. Stateline reports on several states that are changing how literacy is taught, in an environment of dropping test scores – including Vermont.
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The idea of a electric school bus in Vermont during the winter should be all the information you would need to halt this project, unless you are getting paid off.
Electric school buses in Vermont. How do you heat them when it is 10° F outside ? You can’t reply of the heat from the engine so you need to manufacturer heat outside of the buses. How many safety trials were done prior to purchase ? (Besides the manufacturer tainted sale propaganda). You heard about batteries catching fire in cars, you didn’t think it wast worthy of investigation ?
WHERE ,DO THEY FIND THESE PEOPLE ❓
I told Transportation 4 years ago this was a dumb idea! They didn’t listen!
I work for a bus company and from what I’m seeing of the buses we have, I am not impressed. Your range drops about in half when you use the heater in the winter and the safety factors, I hope, will never have to be observed for that will be difficult at best.
That burned out bus? The only way to realistically deal with an EV fire is let it burn OR use thousands and thousands of gallons of water.
IF the batteries get hot, park it 50 feet from any other vehicle, get out and stay away. If anyone has seen parking lots in Chittenden County, 50 feet is a joke. You CAN place it in a large tub of water but again, that’s a bit difficult.
Hey, I don’t mind people driving them but we have a long way to go before I consider them viable.
It appears heating the bus in the photo was not the problem. Controlling the heat was. I would suggest purchasing the optional diesel generator to keep the bus charged and also aid in defrosting the bus. When it is really cold you could use the residual heat of the diesel to help heat.
I’m sure that in the R&D phase of electric school buses, NOBODY saw this coming. I’m soo sure. I love asking progressive democrats how many people they are willing to sacrifice in service of their agenda/grift.
The late great Bob Bannon would have called Vermont’s electric bus endeavor a boondoggle, I’m sure. He’d be 100% right again.