Providence Public School District receives first fleet of electric buses

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Providence Public School District has received its first electric school buses.

First Student will deploy four electric buses to serve the community. They are a first to the district and the company’s first electric vehicles in Rhode Island.

Rhode Island leaders including Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green, and Superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez attended an official launch event on Monday morning.

Congressman Gabe Amo spoke about the benefits they will have on the city.

Congressman Gabe Amo speaks on new First Student electric school buses for the Providence Public School District, Monday, Nov. 27, 2023. (WLNE)

The buses were paid for from American Rescue Plan’s Electric School Bus Rebates funding.

The program helps replace diesel buses with zero-emission electric buses.

A Rhode Island Energy grant helped fund the bus chargers and charging infrastructure.

Officials said replacing just one bus can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 54,000 pounds each year.