Monterey County school district gets first electric bus

A school district in Salinas has received the first fully electric school bus in the Monterey Bay region.

Thanks to grant funds from the Monterey Bay Air Resources District, the Santa Rita Union School District now has an all electric school bus which provides clean air transportation for students.

The school bus was manufactured by E-Lion of Canada and can travel 100 miles when fully charged.

“The zero-emission bus produces no harmful diesel exhaust particulates, no smog producing air pollutants, and no green-house gas emissions, which ultimately protects the health and safety of students,” said Air Pollutant Control Officer, Richard Stedman.

Stedman said the school district will save more than $10,000 in fuel and maintenance costs each year by driving an electric bus.

KION’s Linda Zhang has the story at 5 p.m.