PowerFlex Deploys Landmark Resilient School Bus Charging System for Little Rock School District

Little Rock School District (LRSD) serves roughly 21,000 students across nearly 48 schools in Arkansas's capital and largest city. Founded in 1869, LRSD is home to Little Rock Central High School, a National Historic Site and enduring landmark of the American Civil Rights movement. Today the district pairs that legacy with a forward-looking agenda, investing in cleaner air, healthier students, and leaner operations across its transportation network.

The Challenge

Build an Electrified Bus Fleet That Can Weather Power Outages

LRSD set out to replace aging diesel buses with a zero-emission fleet, but electrification introduced a new dependency: A diesel bus can refuel from a tank during a storm; an electric fleet cannot run if the grid goes down. For a district that must transport students reliably every school day, an outage that leaves buses uncharged was an unacceptable operational risk.

PowerFlex’s Solution

Smart Software Keeps 25 Buses Running Through Blackouts

INSTALLATION TYPE

EV Charging

INSTALLATION SIZE

25 Electric School Buses Supported

LOCATION

Little Rock, AR

INCENTIVE

EPA Clean School Bus Program Grant

PowerFlex partnered with Entegrity Energy Partners to develop a resilient DC Fast Charging site for Little Rock School District. Entegrity installed the charging infrastructure while PowerFlex provided technology support in the form of charge management software.

When the grid goes down, the chargers switch automatically to a natural gas backup generator. ChargePilot® by PowerFlex immediately revises its charging optimization, holding total charging load within the generator's capacity while maintaining vehicle readiness so buses still make their morning routes. The project is the first application of this type of system for a school bus fleet in North America.

Commissioned at the district bus yard in August 2025, the system saves LRSD more than $100,000 annually in fuel costs and removes emissions equivalent to nearly 3,000 passenger cars each year.

“This is more than just adding new buses — it's about doing what's right for our kids and our community. Every mile these buses travel means less pollution, cleaner air, and a stronger commitment to the well-being of our students and our neighborhoods. We're proud to lead this work alongside dedicated partners who share our vision.”

Dr. Jermall D. Wright

Superintendent, Little Rock School District