Durango School District's electric bus, pictured here on April 1, 2022 with gas-fueled buses in the background, was the first first vehicle-to-grid enabled school bus in Colorado.
The three buses have not yet arrived or entered service. Their planned routes and service timeline are being finalized.
DSD Transportation currently has one electric bus and 18 operable large diesel buses – 12 big buses and six specialized mini-buses. The vehicles serve DSD families with 18 routes across 1,100 miles.
DSD Board of Education directors Kristin Smith, left, and Erika Brown, center, stand with DSD Superintendent Dr. Karen Cheser, right, at a media kick-off event for the electric bus on April 1, 2022.
Outside funding supports the purchase
The combined bus purchase price is $1,250,395. DSD anticipates receiving a rebate of up to $836,196 through Colorado’s Clean Fleet Enterprise Program, covering approximately 67% of that price.
After the anticipated rebate, the remaining bus purchase cost is $414,199. The Board of Education approved the purchase using funds from the 2024 Investing in Our Schools Bond at its June 23 meeting. Bond funds are separate from DSD’s general fund, which supports daily operations and salaries. Charging equipment and electrical costs are still being determined.
A charging station was installed in April 2022 at DSD Transportation's Bus Barn at 1071 Highway 3 in Durango.
Diesel costs rise despite lower use
According to DSD Transportation’s billing records, the department spent $7,557 on diesel in July and August 2026, compared with $6,065 during the same period last year. That is approximately 25% more spending despite purchasing about 20% less diesel.
The August diesel cost averaged approximately $5.60 per gallon before discounts, compared with approximately $3.50 a year earlier. These two months provide an early snapshot rather than a full school-year comparison, since school began Aug. 25.
DSD has not reduced or changed bus routes specifically because of fuel prices. The three additional electric buses have not yet affected fuel spending.
Visitors got a peek under the hood of DSD's electric bus on April 1, 2022.
Building on local innovation
DSD’s existing electric bus currently runs a daily Durango West route.
The original pilot was developed with La Plata Electric Association (LPEA), supported by a $328,803 grant and an additional $120,000 from LPEA for charging infrastructure. The project introduced Colorado’s first vehicle-to-grid enabled school bus.
That technology allows the battery to store electricity and supply power back to the grid when demand is high. The three-bus purchase builds on DSD’s early investment and operating experience.
Potential benefits, measured locally
World Resources Institute’s Electric School Bus Initiative estimates more than $7,000 in annual fuel and maintenance savings per electric school bus compared with an equivalent diesel bus under its modeling assumptions. Its cost analysis emphasizes that costs vary by location and operating conditions.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Electric School Bus Planning Guide identifies lower fuel and maintenance costs as potential benefits while recommending that districts account for vehicle purchases, charging infrastructure, utility rates and maintenance. DOE also identifies quieter operation and zero tailpipe emissions as benefits.
DSD is still compiling its own operating-cost comparison. National estimates provide context, rather than a projection of district savings. The district’s approach combines outside funding, suitable route assignments, and local operating experience to support sustainability and responsible financial planning.