Zūm and San Francisco Unified School District Unveil Largest Electric School Bus Fleet in the U.S.
In an ambitious move towards greener transportation, Zūm has taken a significant leap by partnering with the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) to introduce the largest all-electric school bus fleet in the entire nation. This project marks a vital step in transitioning to environmentally friendly student mobility and enhancing the overall experience for students and families.
The announcement was made at a momentous event attended by numerous local and state officials, including SFUSD Superintendent Maria Su and State Senator Scott Wiener, underscoring the project’s importance to the community. Ritu Narayan, CEO of Zūm, expressed enthusiasm about this electrification effort, emphasizing how the collaboration will not only improve mobility for students but also contribute to the resilience of the local power grid.
Beginning August 2026, 104 electric school buses will hit the roads of San Francisco. Equipped with modern charging infrastructure and bidirectional vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities, these buses will provide a quiet, zero-emission transport option, ensuring that students can travel to school without the negative effects of fossil fuel emissions. Remarkably, during peak hours, the buses can return up to 3 gigawatt-hours of clean energy to the local grid, enough to power approximately 1.2 million homes for several hours.
In total, Zūm plans to deploy 238 electric buses by the 2027-2028 school year. This ambitious initiative is supported by various stakeholders, including the EPA Region 9, California Energy Commission, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, and Pacific Gas and Electric Company, showcasing a robust commitment to advancing clean transportation solutions.
Superintendent Dr. Maria Su highlighted the project’s alignment with the district’s long-term operational and sustainability objectives, pointing out that students will benefit from safer, cleaner, and more reliable transportation. The collaboration between Zūm, SFUSD, and the local government aims to build an infrastructure capable of servicing the needs of today’s students while also paving the way for future generations.
Additionally, the project represents a milestone in San Francisco’s broader sustainability goals by promising cleaner air for students and reducing noise pollution. Senator Scott Wiener praised the initiative, stressing its role in enhancing urban transportation and supporting the city’s green initiatives.
At the heart of this modernization is Zūm’s Connected Mobility Experience (CMX™), which integrates technology and operations in real-time. As a result, the SFUSD has already experienced remarkable improvements with an average of 98% on-time performance across the fleet, complete route coverage without driver shortages, and significant cost savings for the district. Zūm CMX™ offers added functionalities such as real-time bus tracking and live communication through a parent app, making the overall experience seamless for families.
Not only will the electric fleet ensure reliability and increase transparency, but it will also play a pivotal role in strengthening the local power grid. The vehicle-to-grid capabilities allow the bus batteries to serve as energy sources when not in operation, thereby converting an underused asset into a crucial energy resource. This transformation is indicative of Zūm’s vision to create a more connected and sustainable transportation ecosystem.
Zūm’s reputation as a leader in electrification is well-established, having introduced the world's first all-electric school bus fleet in Oakland in 2024. The company continues to expand its impact across numerous states, partnering with various school districts to implement effective solutions in the realm of student transportation.
Through innovative technology and collaborative projects like the one in San Francisco, Zūm is setting a new standard for safe, dependable, and environmentally friendly school transport in the U.S. To discover more about how Zūm is shaping the future of student mobility and electrification, visit www.ridezum.com.
The announcement was made at a momentous event attended by numerous local and state officials, including SFUSD Superintendent Maria Su and State Senator Scott Wiener, underscoring the project’s importance to the community. Ritu Narayan, CEO of Zūm, expressed enthusiasm about this electrification effort, emphasizing how the collaboration will not only improve mobility for students but also contribute to the resilience of the local power grid.
Beginning August 2026, 104 electric school buses will hit the roads of San Francisco. Equipped with modern charging infrastructure and bidirectional vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities, these buses will provide a quiet, zero-emission transport option, ensuring that students can travel to school without the negative effects of fossil fuel emissions. Remarkably, during peak hours, the buses can return up to 3 gigawatt-hours of clean energy to the local grid, enough to power approximately 1.2 million homes for several hours.
In total, Zūm plans to deploy 238 electric buses by the 2027-2028 school year. This ambitious initiative is supported by various stakeholders, including the EPA Region 9, California Energy Commission, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, and Pacific Gas and Electric Company, showcasing a robust commitment to advancing clean transportation solutions.
Superintendent Dr. Maria Su highlighted the project’s alignment with the district’s long-term operational and sustainability objectives, pointing out that students will benefit from safer, cleaner, and more reliable transportation. The collaboration between Zūm, SFUSD, and the local government aims to build an infrastructure capable of servicing the needs of today’s students while also paving the way for future generations.
Additionally, the project represents a milestone in San Francisco’s broader sustainability goals by promising cleaner air for students and reducing noise pollution. Senator Scott Wiener praised the initiative, stressing its role in enhancing urban transportation and supporting the city’s green initiatives.
At the heart of this modernization is Zūm’s Connected Mobility Experience (CMX™), which integrates technology and operations in real-time. As a result, the SFUSD has already experienced remarkable improvements with an average of 98% on-time performance across the fleet, complete route coverage without driver shortages, and significant cost savings for the district. Zūm CMX™ offers added functionalities such as real-time bus tracking and live communication through a parent app, making the overall experience seamless for families.
Not only will the electric fleet ensure reliability and increase transparency, but it will also play a pivotal role in strengthening the local power grid. The vehicle-to-grid capabilities allow the bus batteries to serve as energy sources when not in operation, thereby converting an underused asset into a crucial energy resource. This transformation is indicative of Zūm’s vision to create a more connected and sustainable transportation ecosystem.
Zūm’s reputation as a leader in electrification is well-established, having introduced the world's first all-electric school bus fleet in Oakland in 2024. The company continues to expand its impact across numerous states, partnering with various school districts to implement effective solutions in the realm of student transportation.
Through innovative technology and collaborative projects like the one in San Francisco, Zūm is setting a new standard for safe, dependable, and environmentally friendly school transport in the U.S. To discover more about how Zūm is shaping the future of student mobility and electrification, visit www.ridezum.com.
Topics Other）
【About Using Articles】
You can freely use the title and article content by linking to the page where the article is posted.
※ Images cannot be used.
【About Links】
Links are free to use.