Miami-Dade County Public Schools Embrace Sustainability: The Miami-Dade County Public Schools are rapidly advancing towards a sustainable future. For the upcoming academic year, the district has implemented electric school vehicles.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools Embrace Sustainability: Major Highlights
- Twenty Blue Bird Vision electric buses have been added to the district’s fleet of roughly 1,000 buses.
In addition, seven electric vans have been added to accommodate students with special requirements.
Student-led Industry: The Impetus for Alteration
Holly Thorpe, a pupil at MAST Academy, led the charge for this green transformation. In sixth grade, Holly conducted research on the pollution levels of diesel-powered bus engines. Her alarming discovery of elevated CO2 levels inside the school buses prompted her to approach the school board, paving the way for this environmentally friendly transition.
- Characteristics of Electric Buses
- Carrying capacity of 72 students.
- Approximately 120 miles of range on a single charge.
Holly Thorpe expressed her delight, stating that this initiative had been in the works for five years. Florida Power and Light will install fifty DC quick-charging stations to support these electric buses. By September, ten stations are anticipated to be operational, with each requiring up to six hours to fully recharge.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools Embrace Sustainability: Financial Assistance and Advantages
A $11.6 million grant from the Volkswagen Mitigation Settlement Trust of Florida will make the following 50 electric buses $50,000 less expensive than their diesel counterparts.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection distributed funds from this grant to thirteen counties last year to promote sustainable transportation.
To ensure the safety and comfort of all passengers, the new electric buses will be equipped with sophisticated safety features, such as a child reminder button and a battery cooling system.
Spread the word about this worthy endeavour. For additional updates, visit Eduvast.com. Please share this article and let’s work together for a greener future!