By Spencer Sydorko
As electric vehicles (EVs) gain traction in student transportation, many directors and maintenance professionals are beginning to ask a crucial question: What does it actually mean to maintain an electric school bus? As someone who oversees school bus sales for RIDE along the East Coast, I’ve had countless conversations with garage supervisors and technicians new to EVs. Here’s what I tell them:
An electric school bus is still, at its core, a bus. It has many of the same components: axles, tires, suspension systems. The real shift lies in what’s not there. You’re replacing a combustion engine with a battery, electric drivetrain, and a controller system. The result? Far fewer moving parts, typically under 1,000 compared to the 8,000 you’d find in a traditional diesel bus.
That reduction in complexity translates directly into savings. Districts typically save between $5,000 and $7,000 annually per bus in fuel and preventative maintenance. You’re not just cutting costs, you’re shifting from reactive to predictive maintenance, with fewer mechanical failures and less downtime.
Of course, transitioning to electric vehicles requires some initial training. At RIDE, we’ve developed a tiered training program—Bronze, Silver, and Gold—to support a smooth onboarding process. Most school districts begin with our Bronze-level training, which covers the essentials: powering the bus on and off, locating the emergency power disconnect, and performing routine safety inspections. We also guide technicians on what maintenance tasks can be handled in-house versus those requiring additional support. Silver-level training is typically designed for our dealership partners, while any high-voltage or advanced diagnostics are managed directly by our after-sales team to ensure safety and compliance
This training isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some districts want minimal guidance, while others want to go in-depth. We recently conducted a full-day, hands-on session with a district already familiar with EVs. They wanted to learn everything, and we were happy to accommodate. The point is, we tailor the support to your needs, and we’re always a phone call away.
What often surprises new customers is just how user-friendly the RIDE platform is. When we put a bus on a lift and walk technicians through the systems, many are amazed by the simplicity and elegance of the design.
Another question I often hear is about managing service intervals. While traditional maintenance schedules are still relevant, the influx of data from EVs gives you a whole new toolkit. Yes, you’ll have fewer repairs, but you’ll have more actionable data. That means better decision-making and more efficient scheduling.
There are also third-party platforms that can integrate with your fleet management systems to optimize charging times and even sell electricity back to the grid during peak hours. While the EV space is still evolving, it’s important to choose partners with staying power. Talk to districts already operating EVs and learn what’s worked for them.
Whether you’re taking your first step toward electrification or looking to deepen your technical expertise, our goal is to support you every step of the way.
Spencer Sydorko serves as Senior Regional Sales Manager, East Region, for RIDE. Visit www.RIDE.co for more information.