Luther Sommerville, 66, of Aurora has been driving school buses for 18 years. This is his fifth year as a driver for West Aurora School District 129.

But, this school year, one thing about his job is different: The school bus he operates is electric.

His work is largely the same, he said, but it’s made for a different atmosphere — a quieter one.

“It’s nice and quiet,” Sommerville said, noting that the less noisy engines on the EV buses mean students don’t have to talk over them. “The quieter it is, the less noise … the kids make.”

Sommerville is one of a number of West Aurora school bus drivers who started driving electric buses last month. The district recently got 27 new electric-powered buses and 28 charging stations after applying for and being awarded a grant from the United State

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