Branford Public Schools’ buses will become fully electric after striking a deal with student transportation company Zūm, which will deploy an all-electric fleet beginning in the 2026-27 school year, the company announced.
Branford Public Schools’ buses will become fully electric after striking a deal with student transportation company Zūm, which will deploy an all-electric fleet beginning in the 2026-27 school year, the company announced.
The fleet will be equipped with vehicle-to-grid technology, which allows bus batteries to return energy to the local power grid when the vehicles are not in use. Zūm said the capability could help strengthen grid resilience over time.
Branford awarded Zūm a 10-year transportation contract in 2024 with a goal of fully electrifying its fleet within five years. The district is now on track to complete the transition within the first two years — three years ahead of schedule, the company said.
Zūm, headquartered in Redwood City, California, said it currently partners with school districts in 15 states. The company said it deployed the nation’s first fully electric school bus fleet in Oakland Unified School District in California during the 2024-25 school year.
