After extensive testing, operating and refining electric school buses, Zum and San Francisco Unified School District reach major milestone in transition to one of the nation’s largest electric school bus fleets

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Zūm, a leader in modern student mobility, today announced that it has begun rolling out electric school buses for San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), marking a historic milestone in the District’s transition to an all-electric student mobility fleet.

The first buses are now being deployed and additional electric buses will be phased in throughout the fall as they are provided by the manufacturer. Charging and supporting infrastructure is fully in place and ready to support the fleet as buses arrive.

The milestone follows years of testing, operating and refining electric school bus technology. Zum began testing electric buses in 2022 and has since accumulated years of real-world operating experience, including extensive testing in San Francisco to evaluate vehicles in the city’s unique hills, terrain, weather and operating environment.

“Getting students to and from school safely and on time is, without question, the most important thing we do,” said Ritu Narayan, Founder and CEO of Zum. “For many districts like SFUSD, an additional benefit of working with Zum is our ability to also enable a clean electric fleet. We have spent years testing and improving our approach to electrification because this transition has to be done the right way. We have gone the extra mile to ensure San Francisco has the best vehicles, technology and infrastructure for its unique needs. Seeing these electric buses bring SFUSD students to and from school is an incredibly exciting milestone for our drivers, families, the District and the entire San Francisco community.”

Years of Testing Behind A Historic Milestone

Zum’s commitment to safety is at the center of every aspect of the SFUSD deployment, from vehicle selection and maintenance to charging infrastructure, routing, driver training and daily operations. Every bus operating for SFUSD must meet applicable federal requirements and state certification requirements to transport students.

Zum’s years of testing and electric bus operating experience have helped inform how the vehicles are being deployed in San Francisco. Rather than moving directly from its pilot effort to large-scale deployment, Zūm has tested and evaluated multiple electric school bus configurations under real-world conditions. That experience has allowed teams to select vehicles that meet the demands of the communities in which they operate.

“San Francisco presents one of the most unique operating environments in the country, and this milestone is the result of an enormous amount of work and collaboration,” said Tomas Beccar-Varela, Transportation Director at San Francisco Unified School District. “Seeing these electric buses now carrying our students is an incredibly exciting moment for SFUSD. We are not simply introducing new vehicles—we are building a cleaner, more modern student mobility system that will benefit our students, families and the broader San Francisco community for years to come.”

Drivers at the Center of the Transition

For the professional drivers who transport SFUSD students every day, the transition represents a significant improvement to the driving experience.

Zum has worked closely with drivers throughout the process, incorporating their feedback and providing training and hands-on experience with the electric buses before deployment.

“For our drivers, this is about much more than a new bus,” said Paul Ahn, General Manager of Zum San Francisco. “These are the professionals entrusted with safely carrying San Francisco’s students every day, so their experience and feedback have been essential throughout this process. We’ve invested heavily in preparing our drivers for this transition, and there is tremendous excitement about what these buses mean for them, for the students they serve and for the community.”

Angela Watson, Vice President of SMART Local 1741 and a San Francisco school bus driver for 26 years, said drivers are excited about the transition. “I’ve been driving school buses in San Francisco for 26 years, and it’s thrilling to see our fleet take this next step,” Watson said. “Drivers are looking forward to these electric buses. They’re quieter, cleaner and better for our drivers, our students and the communities we drive through every day.”

“The electric buses are really a pleasure to drive,” said Marjorie Urbana, an SFUSD school bus driver with Zūm. “They’re quiet, smooth and comfortable behind the wheel, and the students are excited about them too. It feels great to be part of a new effort to improve school days for students across San Francisco.”

Building the Infrastructure for an Electric Future

The rollout is supported by significant investment in the physical and technology infrastructure required to operate an electric school bus fleet at scale.

Charging and supporting infrastructure is already in place, positioning Zum to put additional electric buses into service as they are delivered by the manufacturer. The site and charging infrastructure have been designed and installed to meet applicable safety and electrical requirements.

The electric buses will also be integrated with Zum CMX™, Zūm’s unified, AI-powered operating system purpose-built for student mobility, connecting routing, dispatch, drivers, schools, families, safety and operations in real time.

The result is a transformation that goes beyond replacing diesel buses with electric ones. Zum and SFUSD are modernizing the technology, operations, vehicles and energy infrastructure underlying the journey to and from school.

“This is what the future of student mobility looks like,” Narayan said. “It is safer, smarter, cleaner and more connected—and it starts by never losing sight of the responsibility at the center of everything we do: safely getting students to school and home again every day on time and ready to learn.”

To learn more about how Zum is leading the nation in redefining student mobility, visit www.ridezum.com.

About Zum

Zum is redefining mass mobility with Zum CMX, which connects and coordinates people, vehicles, and operations in real time. In the student mobility market, Zum is addressing a daily source of anxiety and disruption by providing a reliable, transparent, and efficient mobility experience for students and families. Learn more at www.ridezum.com. Today, more than 6,500 schools in 19 states have relied on the Zum CMX system.

Media Contact
Jenny Mayfield
VP, Communications, Zum
press@ridezum.com 

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SOURCE Zūm