A new fleet of electric powered buses will soon be transporting Burlington County Special Services School students.

The Burlington County Commissioners joined with Special Services School District officials and a state legislator for a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday to celebrate the new addition of 10 electric buses and five charging stations at the district’s Westampton campus, saying the upgrade to cleaner, environmentally-friendly vehicles would protect the health of the students and staff and create long-term savings and benefits.

“The switch from diesel to electric powered buses is an investment in a cleaner environment and also our students’ health,” said Burlington County Commissioner Deputy Director Allison Eckel, the liaison to Burlington County schools. “Because of this upgrade, many of our Special Services School students and staff will no longer be exposed to diesel exhaust on school trips or daily commutes to and from school. The buses also run quieter and have zero carbon emissions. We believe this is a smart investment and Burlington County residents can take pride knowing this school district is blazing a path for other schools to follow.”

The school district’s new fleet of 10 electric buses is believed to be the largest EV bus fleet in Burlington County. There are seven 24-passenger buses and three 54-passenger buses. The new buses will replace about half of the school district’s diesel bus fleet that were due to be retired.

School district officials said their goal is to eventually replace all its diesel buses.

“These buses represent more than just transportation. They represent opportunity, clean air for our students, quieter neighborhoods and a forward-thinking approach to how we move our schools and state into the future,” said Burlington County Special Services/BCIT Superintendent Dr. Ashanti Holley. “Together we’re going to drive change, one mile, one bus and one student at a time.”

The Special Services School District purchased the vehicles from Wolfington Body Company using funding secured through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2023 Clean School Bus Rebate Program. Wolfington is based in Chester Springs, Pa. but has an office in Hainesport.

A total of $1.6 million in federal funding was awarded to the school district for the upgrade.

In addition to the vehicles, the Special Services School District acquired equipment for five charging stations to power the buses. The charging stations were installed by workers from the Burlington County Division of Construction Services, which hired skilled union trade workers to perform small and medium-sized construction projects for Burlington County. Doing the work in-house rather than hiring private contractors typically reduces the expense between 10 to 15 percent.

The Division of Construction Services also previously assisted the Special Services School District with the installation of its new all-inclusive playground. More recently, the Division also renovated space in Burlington County Institute of Technology’s Medford Campus school for a new video game design lab.

“The Division of Construction Services has become one of Burlington County’s biggest successes,” said Burlington County Commissioner Randy Brolo. “In 2024 alone, the Division completed more than $17.5 million worth of construction jobs, ranging from roof and elevator repairs to building renovations and bridge replacements. This skilled labor has saved County taxpayers millions of dollars on construction expenses, so we were excited to partner with the Special Services School District to use their services for such an important project to improve children’s health and promote a cleaner environment.”

New Jersey Assemblyman Balvir Singh also congratulated the district on its upgrade.

“As a parent and a public school educator, I can tell you from experience the extraordinary number of hours kids spend on buses, going back-and-forth to school and on athletic trips or other field trips,” said Assemblyman Singh. “This fleet of quieter and cleaner buses is a great step in the right direction and a great investment.”