In Quebec, Canada, Kempower has partnered with Bornes Quebec and the Eastern Townships School Board (ETSB) to introduce a new electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure for school buses.
Kempower commissioned the ETSB charging facility for school bus fleets in 2024, making it one of the first in North America. Through the use of Kempower’s cloud-based ChargEye software, ETSB is able to organize and oversee charging operations and generate reports to monitor possible carbon credits.
One of the main factors in the collaboration with ETSB was the system’s capacity to effectively scale, update, and share power.
The Kempower system’s capacity to recognize fleet buses when they are plugged in eliminates the need for a gated security system, which is one of its primary features. Because of this functionality, the website can also be used as a public charging station after school, on vacations, and during summer breaks. Operators of electric school buses are rapidly adopting this business strategy, as it provides a cost-effective and sustainable solution for maximizing charging infrastructure utilization.
Currently, 30 electric school buses are in service at the ETSB location, supported by 14 charging connections, six double satellites, two single satellites, and three chargers. The location supports the 77 school buses in ETSB’s larger fleet, which is currently 39% electrified with a goal of 65% by 2030. The scalability of the charging infrastructure ensures that the school board can accommodate future expansions, meeting the increasing demand for electric school transportation while promoting environmental sustainability.