Alaskan Electric School Bus Operates in Extremely Cold Temperature

Batteries and cold weather don't usually mix, but one transportation company pushes the boundaries.

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Gerald "Stretch" Blackard, co-owner of Tok Transportation, told AccuWeather National Reporter Emmy Victor that the firm acquired an electric school bus to test it out in the country's coldest state.

"Batteries and cold temperatures don't mix along in general, no matter what sort of batteries," Blackard added. "I saw a challenge there, so I decided to take a chance and see whether it would work."

Extreme Cold

On Jan. 23, 1971, the lowest temperature ever recorded in Alaska was 80 degrees below zero at Prospect Creek. That day, the high temperature was 64 degrees below zero. According to NPR, the lowest temperature recorded in Tok, Alaska, came close to the state's record low of 78 degrees below zero set in 2009. According to data from the National Weather Service on Tok, the lowest temperature between 2010 and 2022 was in December 2012, when the temperature dipped to 58 degrees below zero.

Despite the harsh cold, Blackard assured Victor that the electric bus could travel in temperatures below zero.

Blackard added, "I suppose the lowest recording I have is -48." "We've been fortunate in that the -50 and -60-degree days this year have all fallen on weekends, so we haven't had to drive it in those colder circumstances yet."

Gaining Interest

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He first became interested in electric school buses in 2018 and even attended a conference in Kansas City where he got the opportunity to test drive one. His firm now has one of its own.

According to Alaska Public Radio, Blackard paid $50,000 for the $400,000 bus manufactured by Thomas Built Buses in North Carolina. The rest of the price is covered by an Alaska Energy Authority program.

Charging

The car is charged using solar panels and stored indoors to keep the battery warm when it isn't out in the cold. However, because the solar panels only provide half of the electricity required to charge the bus's battery, Tok Transportation will purchase the remaining electricity from the local utility. He told Alaska Public Media in November 2021.

He went on to say that he was sharing the information he gathered with the energy authority, the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Alaska Center for Energy and Power, the Silicon Valley-based battery firm Protera, and Thomas Built Buses. He also shares the information with nonprofit organizations run by Alaskans passionate about renewable energy.

However, it isn't all easy sailing. Blackard stated that keeping the interior of the bus warm was his primary worry since there was a lot of space to heat up.

He added that keeping it heated at -30, -40, or -50 degrees is a struggle even on a diesel bus.

Taking Into Consideration

According to Blackard, the school district's location and the bus's mileage have also been an issue, as the nearest dealership is 200 miles away. The bus has a maximum range of 135 miles before recharging.

While some students could care less about taking the bus to school, Blackard stated that it has brought joy to the cheeks of others, "particularly those who adore vehicles."