Powering Denver’s Largest Electric School Bus Fleet
Congratulations to Denver Public Schools, which now operates the largest electric school bus fleet in Colorado! Winn-Marion is proud to have led the electrical infrastructure project that makes it possible.
The Project
DPS recently introduced 25 new Blue Bird Vision electric school buses to its fleet, joining three existing EV buses already in service. The addition brings the district’s total to 28 electric buses, representing 12% of its nearly 300-bus fleet — and making DPS home to the largest electric school bus fleet in the state.
To keep that fleet charged and ready for daily routes, DPS needed robust, reliable charging infrastructure at its Hilltop Bus Terminal. Winn-Marion led the electrical infrastructure work behind the new charging hub, which features a Kempower distributed DC fast-charging system with 650 kilowatts of total power capacity, delivered through 13 dual-port Kempower Satellite dispensers — 26 charging plugs in all. The system dynamically distributes available power across connected buses, so the fleet stays charged and ready no matter how routes and schedules shift day to day. PowerFlex manages the depot’s smart charging and energy optimization.
The charging hub was completed and ready ahead of the district’s first day of school on August 24.
Winn-Marion’s Jim Hussey, Electrification Solutions Specialist, reflected on the collaboration: “We couldn’t be more pleased with the entire team’s performance on this significant project. Denver Public Schools is a smart, organized group, Kempower has been highly supportive from day one, and PowerFlex (formerly The Mobility House) has proven to be an outstanding partner in the Smart Charging and Energy Management space. We look forward to the opportunity to support other school districts throughout the Rocky Mountain region over the coming years.”
Why It Matters
Transportation accounts for roughly 14% of DPS’s overall greenhouse gas emissions, and the district has set a goal of cutting total emissions by at least 90% by 2050. Replacing diesel buses with zero-emission electric buses is a direct, meaningful step toward that goal. It also means cleaner air for the students riding the buses and the communities along their routes.
As Kempower North America President Monil Malhotra put it: “Electrifying a school bus fleet requires charging infrastructure that works around the realities of daily transportation schedules. Kempower technology keeps electric school buses charged, ready, and on the road, helping Denver Public Schools deliver reliable, cleaner transportation for students every day.”
To date, Kempower charging solutions support electric school bus depots in Denver, Quebec, Louisiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Indiana, and Wisconsin. The Hilltop Bus Terminal is now among the largest of these deployments.
Winn-Marion’s Role
This project reflects the kind of work Winn-Marion does every day: partnering with industry-leading manufacturers like Kempower and delivering the electrical infrastructure expertise that turns ambitious electrification goals into reliable, working systems. As Jim noted, this is just the beginning: Winn-Marion looks forward to supporting more school districts throughout the Rocky Mountain region as fleet electrification grows.
From fleet depots to industrial facilities, our team helps organizations across Colorado and beyond navigate the transition to electrification with infrastructure built to perform.
Interested in what a Winn-Marion-led electrification or EV charging infrastructure project could look like for your fleet or facility? Contact us to learn more.
