ComEd, the utility serving northern Illinois, has launched a pilot program involving bidirectional charging technology, allowing these buses to discharge stored energy during high-demand periods. This initiative taps into the fact that school buses often sit idle during afternoons and evenings, precisely when residential air conditioning and other loads strain the power system. In Wauconda, where two electric buses have been in use for three years, transportation director Rick Strauss noted the financial incentives, with funding secured for another two years. For insiders, this Illinois trial echoes global experiments, like those in California where 42 electric buses are being deployed with advanced charging, per Charged EVs. Economic and Environmental ImplicationsEconomically, school districts stand to gain revenue streams, offsetting the high upfront costs of electric buses, which can exceed $300,000 each.