Denver Public Schools Adds 25 Electric School Buses, Expanding Fleet to 28
Denver Public Schools has recently completed the delivery of 25 Blue Bird Vision electric school buses, expanding its electric bus fleet to 28 vehicles. These new buses will be deployed at the Hilltop Bus Terminal, marking a significant advancement in the district’s efforts to electrify transportation. To ensure the fleet can meet daily transportation schedules, the district has simultaneously deployed DC fast-charging infrastructure provided by Kempower to meet the buses' charging needs within fixed timeframes.
The charging system at the Hilltop Bus Terminal was installed by electrical solutions provider Winn-Marion, with a total power capacity of 650 kilowatts. It includes 13 Kempower Satellite dual-port chargers, providing a total of 26 charging ports. The system utilizes a distributed charging architecture that dynamically allocates power based on the actual needs of the vehicles, preventing delays caused by charging schedule conflicts. This design ensures all buses are fully charged during off-peak or overnight hours and remain ready for operation at any time.
Kempower Technology Supports Stable School Bus Operations; Experts Emphasize Critical Role of Charging Infrastructure
Monil Malhotra, President of Kempower North America, stated that one of the biggest challenges in electrifying school bus fleets is ensuring vehicles remain fully charged within the strict daily transportation schedules. He noted that Kempower’s technology effectively addresses this issue, providing Denver Public Schools students with more reliable and cleaner transportation. Malhotra further emphasized that the stability and efficiency of charging infrastructure are key to the successful operation of electric school buses. As fleet sizes continue to grow, high-efficiency charging management systems can significantly enhance operational reliability.
Jim Hussey, Electrification Solutions Specialist at Winn-Marion, praised the execution of the project. He highlighted that Denver Public Schools demonstrated strong organizational capabilities throughout the planning and implementation process, ensuring the smooth deployment of the charging infrastructure. Hussey also mentioned that Kempower and smart charging partner PowerFlex (formerly The Mobility House) provided full support from the project’s inception, laying the foundation for the system’s stable operation. He particularly underscored PowerFlex’s expertise in smart charging and energy management, which played a crucial role in the project’s success.
Kempower Charging Systems Widely Deployed Across U.S. School Bus Charging Stations
Kempower’s charging solutions are not only in use at Denver Public Schools’ Hilltop Bus Terminal but have also been deployed across electric school bus charging stations in multiple U.S. states, including Quebec, Louisiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Indiana, and Wisconsin. These charging stations utilize dynamic power distribution mechanisms to effectively address the challenges of centralized charging for school buses, ensuring fleets can depart on time while maximizing charging efficiency.
The expansion of Denver Public Schools’ electric school bus fleet reflects the accelerating trend toward zero-emission transportation across U.S. school districts. As the number of electric school buses continues to grow, the efficiency and reliability of charging infrastructure will directly impact the stability of student transportation and environmental benefits. While the district has not yet disclosed the total cost or funding sources for this project, the adoption of high-power charging systems has become a cornerstone of school bus electrification. Experts suggest that as technology advances, the charging efficiency and operational costs of electric school buses are expected to improve further, delivering greater environmental and economic benefits to school districts.
The electric school bus charging system deployed by Denver Public Schools will be showcased at an upcoming event from September 14 to 17, 2026, where additional technical details and real-world application cases will be presented. The successful implementation of Kempower’s distributed charging technology at the Hilltop Bus Terminal serves as a model for other school districts, demonstrating how high-efficiency charging management systems can ensure the stable operation of electric school buses.
