As students across the United States return to classrooms, their transportation may soon be getting cleaner. School districts nationwide are exploring the adoption of electric school buses, a move that promises environmental benefits but has come with some financial challenges.
This year, a district in California is set to unveil the first all-electric fleet of school buses in the nation, marking a significant milestone in the transition to cleaner energy. The shift is part of a broader trend, with states like New Jersey and Georgia securing millions of dollars in federal grants to electrify their school bus fleets.
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However, the transition to electric buses has not been without its hurdles. The high upfront cost of electric vehicles (EVs) is a major concern for many school districts. These buses, while environmentally friendly, require substantial investments that some districts find difficult to justify or sustain.
Maryland’s largest school district announced plans in 2022 to introduce over 300 new electric buses. The district projected that the shift would cut fuel costs by 50%, a promising incentive given the rising costs of traditional fuels. However, the nearly $170 million investment has faced significant setbacks.
Dozens of the ordered buses were delivered behind schedule, and those that did arrive were quickly beset with mechanical and charging issues. On average, it took two weeks to resolve these problems, leading to operational disruptions.
With buses arriving late and requiring lengthy repairs, the district was forced to find alternative transportation solutions, ultimately deciding to spend almost $15 million more to purchase 90 diesel school buses.
Tags: Climate Change, Energy, greenhouse gas emissions, Money, Renewable energy, School districts, schools
Jack Aylmer
WITH KIDS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL – THEIR TRANSPORTATION COULD BE GETTING CLEANER.
BUT E-V BUSES ARE EXPENSIVE – AND IT’S AN INVESTMENT THAT MAY END UP BEING COSTLY FOR SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
ONE DISTRICT IN CALIFORNIA IS SET TO UNVEIL THE VERY FIRST ALL-ELECTRIC FLEET OF SCHOOL BUSES IN THE NATION THIS YEAR.
AND OTHER EDUCATION ADMINISTRATORS AROUND THE U.S. HAVE ALSO EXPLORED GOING ELECTRIC WITH THEIR BUSES.
STATES LIKE NEW JERSEY AND GEORGIA ARE TAKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FEDERAL GRANTS TO ELECTRIFY THEIR SCHOOL BUSES.
THOUGH IT’S A PLAN THAT HAS RUN INTO SOME FINANCIAL ROADBLOCKS ELSEWHERE IN THE U.S.
JUST LAST MONTH WE LEARNED OF ISSUES AT MARYLAND’S LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IN 2022 – PLANS WERE MADE FOR OVER THREE HUNDRED NEW ELECTRIC BUSES-
PROJECTING THE SHIFT WOULD CUT FUEL COSTS BY 50 PERCENT.
HOWEVER, THE NEARLY 170 MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT HASN’T EXACTLY PAID OFF.
DOZENS OF THOSE BUSES WERE DELIVERED BEHIND SCHEDULE-
AND THOSE THAT ARRIVED QUICKLY RAN INTO MECHANICAL AND CHARGING ISSUES THAT TOOK AN AVERAGE OF TWO WEEKS TO FIX.
WITH BUSES ARRIVING LATE AND NEEDING LENGTHY REPAIRS, THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN SCRAMBLING TO FIND ALTERNATIVES.
ULTIMATELY DECIDING TO SPEND ALMOST 15 MILLION DOLLARS IN ADDITIONAL COSTS TO BUY 90 DIESEL SCHOOL BUSES AS A RESULT.
AS THE SCHOOL YEAR ROLLS ON – WE’LL BE WATCHING HOW THIS TRANSITION PLAYS OUT. BE SURE TO DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP TO RIDE ALONG.
JACK AYLMER – STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.
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