Groundbreaking: Electric Bus Dealership to Open in Batavia

Beneath the electric bus to be used by Lake Shore Central School District are 14 batteries. The open hood exposes an area that would house a 1,500-lb. bus engine in a traditional diesel-powered bus.

When New York Bus Sales LLC broke ground on its $4.5 million, 20,000-square-foot dealership in the town of Batavia, National Grid was among those who were thanked for the electric vehicle charging stations that will be included there.

The charging stations were made possible through National Grid'sElectric Vehicle Make-Ready Program, which provides funding for up to 100 percent of the electric infrastructure costs for approved projects.

The dealership will include office and training space, plus maintenance and storage areas. It will support school districts and bus operators across Genesee County, plus the Western New York and Finger Lakes regions as they convert their fleets from diesel to electric. New York State has mandated that all school buses in the state - approximately 50,000 of them - be 100 percent electric by 2035.

In addition to support from National Grid, the project also received $400,000 in incentives from Genesee County Economic Development Center.

Chittenango-based New York Bus Sales, the largest Blue Bird school bus dealer in the state, is also projecting to create 24 full-time jobs in Batavia.

"We strategically chose Genesee County because of the favorable business climate, and its central location between the Buffalo and Rochester metropolitan regions where there are a number of school districts", said John Johnston, Operations Manager of New York Bus Sales. "This type of operation will be one of the first of its kind in New York State and it would not have been possible without the support of the Genesee County Economic Development Center and National Grid."

National Grid Regional Director Ken Kujawa, far right, looks on as Genesee County Economic Development Center
President and CEO Steve Hyde addresses media and guests on June 27.

"Our make-ready program provides a range of technical assistance and funding for electric vehicle charging projects across our upstate New York service territory," said National Grid Regional Director Ken Kujawa. "Working with New York Bus Sales is a great example of a company making a commitment toward innovation and sustainability while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting New York State's climate emission mandates."

"New York Bus Sales is yet another project as part of the emerging green economy in Genesee County as evidenced by the current construction of Plug Power's green hydrogen facility at STAMP, the opening of a research and development facility for more efficient and renewable wind turbine bases in Bergen, and various solar projects across the county as well as other projects in the pipeline," said Genesee County Economic Development Center President and CEO Steve Hyde.

One of the first electric school buses will be delivered this summer to the Lake Shore Central School District. Electric buses are nearly identical to diesel engine buses, with the new EV vehicles have a quieter engine along with increased technological capabilities significantly reduced emissions.