Kansas school halts electric bus use over student safety concerns

Context: Video originally aired in December 2022 after Wabaunsee USD 329 received its first electric school buses.

KANSAS (KSNT) - A Kansas school has stopped using its electric school buses out of an abundance of caution after reports of the buses losing steering and braking, posing a threat to student safety.

Working for you, 27 News reached out to the six school districts that initially received federal funding to purchase electric school buses. While some districts report the buses are functioning well, Wabaunsee USD 329 said it removed buses from service "in line with our highest priority of student safety."

In December 2022, Wabaunsee USD 329 Superintendent Dr. Troy Pitsch announced the district would be the first in Kansas to receive electric school buses from Canadian company Lion Electric. The school was one of the first four in the nation to receive the electric school buses and one of six districts in Kansas to get initial funding.

In May 2024, the Winthrop school district in Maine reported it took four of the Lion Electric school buses out of commission after a bus suddenly stopped working while driving. Another superintendent in Maine reported the buses can have critical battery failures, blown compressors or loss of power.

In its Q3 2024 financial report, Lion Electric reported it had nearly $500 million in debt and liabilities. In December 2024, the company filed for creditor protection under the Canadian Companies Creditor's Arrangement Act. The company also announced it would seek recognition of those proceedings in the USA under Chapter 15 of the Bankruptcy Code.

On January 3, 2025, the company announced it would lay off about 150 employees in Canada and the USA. The company said its remaining workforce of about 160 employees would focus on the maintenance and service of school buses and trucks.

Wabaunsee USD 329 purchased two electric buses from Lion Electric as part of the EPA grant opportunity. From the start, we were excited to pilot emerging technology in school transportation, especially through a federal program designed to promote sustainable practices. While the buses showed early promise, we encountered ongoing operational issues that ultimately led us to pause their use. Out of an abundance of caution, and in line with our highest priority of student safety, we made the decision to remove the buses from active service while we work with the manufacturer toward resolution.

Wabaunsee USD 329 Superintendent Dr. Troy Pitsch

Pitsch told 27 News the district was required to trade in its diesel buses as part of the EPA requirements.

Lion Electric describes itself as the leading medium and heavy-duty urban electric vehicle platform in the USA and Canada. The company claims to have a combined manufacturing capability of 5,000 vehicles per year.

The Washington Free Beacon reported the Biden administration had awarded Lion Electric nearly $160 million to produce electric school buses. According to the Financial Post, the Quebec government has invested $177 million and the Canadian government has invested $30 million into the company.

The company reported it had more than 2,200 vehicles on the road with an order book of 1,590 all-electric medium and heavy-duty urban vehicles as of Nov. 6, 2024, which included 1,455 buses. The company said the total order value of those vehicles was about $420 million.

According to the KSDE, the first districts in Kansas to receive electric school buses were:

• Southern Lyon County, four buses, $372,500 per bus, a total amount of $1,490,000.
• Waconda USD 272, four buses, $395,000 per bus, a total amount of $1,580,000.
• Wabaunsee USD 329, two buses, $395,000 per bus, a total amount of $790,000.
• Sterling USD 376, two buses, $395,000 per bus, a total amount of $790,000.
• Caney Valley USD 436, two buses, $395,000 per bus, a total amount of $790,000.
• Halstead USD 440, three buses, $395,000 per bus, a total amount of $1,185,000.

USD 252 Superintendent Ryan Muhlig told 27 News the school buses the district purchased from another company, Thomas Built Buses, have been performing very well, even in the extreme cold. He said his district had to trade in diesel buses as part of the deal with the EPA.

"While we originally hoped for four electric buses, we received three as part of the final arrangement," Muhlig said.

USD 436 Superintendent Blake Vargas told 27 News that their district purchased buses through International IC Bus. He said the district is pleased with their operation, but noted that similar to diesel buses, they don't like extreme negative temperatures.

In Topeka, USD 501 is anticipating a delivery of 25 electric school buses from Thomas Built Buses in 2025, according to General Director of Transportation and Campus Police Bill Cochran.

27 News has reached out to Lion Electric and the EPA for comment but has yet to receive a response.

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