Government Pushes School Bus Electrification Despite High Cost Barrier
The federal government is pushing for school bus electrification, with over 8,600 electric school bus purchases committed. However, the high cost of electric buses, around $352,000 compared to $100,000 for diesel, is a significant barrier. Only about 4,000 electric buses are currently in use, representing less than 1 percent of all school buses.
The Clean School Bus Program and the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Program aim to accelerate the transition. The former provides $5 billion in grants and rebates from 2022 to 2026. While electric buses reduce tailpipe pollution, benefiting students and communities, their high prices, exacerbated by subsidies, raise concerns about direct transfers to manufacturers.
To mitigate costs, school districts can seek funding support from government agencies, as seen in Duisburg, and consider comprehensive system solutions from companies like Daimler Buses. Despite the challenges, decarbonizing transportation through electric school buses is crucial for achieving climate goals and improving public health and student outcomes. Exposure to traffic pollution can negatively impact academic performance and long-term social capital accumulation, making the switch to electric buses even more pressing.
With only a small fraction of school buses electrified, the high cost of electric buses remains a hurdle. While government programs and cost-reduction strategies can help, the benefits of reduced pollution and improved health outcomes for students and communities make the transition to electric school buses a vital step towards a cleaner, healthier future.
