When the EPA kick-started its $5 billion grant program in 2022, it took the first step in improving a K-12 staple with a 100-year history: the school bus.
While many people are more than happy to never think about them again after graduation, school buses still play a vital role in the public education system. Nationally, 26 million children in the U.S. take 480,000 diesel-powered buses to and from school each day, producing more than five million tons of carbon dioxide emissions while also generating air pollutants that are harmful to children’s health. These detrimental factors spurred the EPA to create grant opportunities through the Clean School Bus (CSB) Program for schools to switch to electric buses.
From now until 2026, schools will have multiple opportunities a year to receive over $350,000 per bus and begin their transition to an electric fleet.
The general public may be familiar with electric vehicles and the hotly contested pros and cons that come along with them, but the benefits specific to electrifying school buses are far less known and much easier to define. In fact, our big yellow commuters might be the perfect application for electric vehicles. Here are five reasons why:
1. Breathe It In
The primary driver for the EPA’s CSB funds is to reduce the polluted air that current school buses spit out on students and communities. By funding electric and lower-emission buses, children’s developing lungs will be better protected from diesel-related health problems such as asthma exacerbation and increased infections. Studies have already shown that a transition to electric school buses leads to healthier students and increased attendance.
2. A Match Made in Heaven
Most school buses have a great usage profile for an electric upgrade. The average bus travels less than 75 miles a day, well within the common 125-mile battery range of EV buses. And every day, the bus returns home to the bus yard where it can reliably recharge for the next day. If a charge between routes is necessary, the bus is often available mid-day.
3. Throw Away the Gas Card
Frequently, a single electric school bus will save more than $5,000 a year by charging a battery compared to fueling a diesel engine (savings will vary based on local electric rates and the price of diesel fuel). Additionally, electric school buses can charge mainly overnight, taking advantage of the cheapest electricity rates since utilities commonly vary electric rates depending on the time of use.
4. Less is More
Electric school buses have dramatically fewer moving parts than diesel buses — we’re talking 20 moving parts in an EV motor compared to 2,000 in a combustion engine. Without engine oil, the after-treatment system is gone, and the brake system is used roughly five times less often with regenerative braking. Similar to fuel, annual savings are in the thousands. After proper training, schools’ existing technicians will spend less time on repairs, less money on parts, and making repairs in a cleaner work environment.
5. Do You Hear That?
A common anecdote from those who have already made the transition to electric is that “a quiet ride means quiet students.” So, utter silence may be a stretch with 50+ students—but, repeatedly, drivers have noted that their bus riders are better behaved. Without the noise of the combustion engine, students don’t need to raise their voices. These buses are so quiet that, for safety, manufacturers actually install an artificial hum to ensure anyone near the bus can still hear it.
The EPA Clean School Bus Program removes the steep upfront costs of transitioning to electric buses for districts that receive grants. In turn, as electric school buses rise in popularity and manufacturers invest in production, the cost per bus will come down. With all signs pointing toward fleet electrification as the way of the future, partnering with an experienced energy savings company now will pay dividends later. The EPA’s 2023 Clean School Program Rebates are currently open – now’s the time to start exploring.
