Ten years ago, the initial use of electric school buses began in three California school districts, offering a quieter, less unpleasant mode of transportation compared to the diesel buses commonly used by students and their families.

Even though the technology has been accessible for years, less than one percent of the 489,000 school buses in the United States were electric as of the end of 2023.

This indicates that a majority of the buses used to transport students across the country still use a harmful fuel that releases pollutants into the atmosphere and can cause cancer.

However, this trend may be shifting. According to the Electric School Bus Initiative by the World Resources Institute, the number of electric school buses in use or being purchased has increased by over three times in the past two years.

According to WRI, the number of students riding on electric school buses is expected to increase from approximately 20,000 in 2020 to 200,000 in 3 years. Additionally, the number of states with electric bus legislation or goals has grown from two to 14 since 2020.

Despite efforts from parents, advocates, and organizations, there are still several obstacles to gaining support for electric school buses in other areas.

Alicia Cox, a mother of two from Jackson, Wyoming, stated that the key is to overcome these obstacles. Currently, Wyoming is the only state without any school districts that have electric buses in use or on the way.

Cox’s son, a second-grader, often rides a diesel bus to school. As the executive director of Yellowstone-Teton Clean Cities, a nonprofit that focuses on sustainable transportation, she regularly calls on school districts, fleet managers, other nonprofit organizations and a variety of agencies to make the switch — so far, to no avail.

According to parents, advocates, and districts, the cost remains a major obstacle. Despite the potential savings on fuel and maintenance with an electric bus, they are still two to three times more expensive than diesel buses.

The Biden administration’s bipartisan infrastructure law, passed in 2021, includes $5 billion in funding from the Environmental Protection Agency specifically for zero-emissions buses. So far, 440 grants and rebates totaling $1.8 billion have been distributed to replace buses in hundreds of school districts throughout the U.S.

Christine Koester, director of the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program, stated that there has been a positive response for the funds.

Aside from funds from the government, supporters have effectively lobbied for the allocation of resources from sources such as the Volkswagen emissions settlement for electric buses.

For districts that are not receiving funding, there are alternatives available for leasing electric buses from contracted companies. These companies provide the buses and equipment and offer reasonable leasing options for districts.

Unattainable still

David Mustonen, the communications director for Dearborn Public Schools, shared that the district, which serves a community where 70% of families are considered low-income, was eager to embrace a new technology. In December of 2022, they officially launched their first electric bus.

Purchased using a federal grant of $300,000, this item has only been in use for three out of the twelve months since its acquisition. This is due to the need for maintenance and a learning curve with charging. Despite this, Dearborn remains determined to add 18 more, although this may be seen as a risky decision by others.

Some challenges in switching to electric buses include delays in approval from districts, potential delivery delays, and the need to upgrade the electrical supply for charging.

The state of Wyoming declined funding from the EPA due to concerns about the buses’ distance capabilities and their ability to withstand cold weather storage.

According to Cox, schools and fleet managers have informed her that while diesel may not be as environmentally friendly, it is still effective in completing tasks.

Some districts that have agreed to purchase electric school buses are still purchasing new diesel buses at the same time. However, the Clean School Bus Program mandates that recipients replace their oldest buses first. This can be challenging for districts that do not own their fleets and instead contract for them.

On the other hand, parents, advocates, and organizations expressed that the transition to electric buses typically occurs when there is a strong advocate at schools. However, this can also be a challenge, according to Elizabeth Brandt, a mother of two children who attend Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland. Her children used to ride the one electric school bus in their area for about a year before its route was altered.

According to Brandt, parents who have children with asthma may have difficulty advocating for change.

Brandt explained that if you are reserving your sick time to accompany your child to a pulmonologist, you may not always be available during the week to speak with a lawmaker.

___

Alexa St. John is a reporter for the Associated Press focused on climate solutions. You can follow her on X, previously known as Twitter, by searching @alexa_stjohn. To contact her, email [email protected].

___

The Associated Press receives funding from various private foundations for their climate and environmental coverage. AP is fully accountable for all of its content. Please visit AP.org for AP’s guidelines on collaborating with philanthropic organizations, a list of supporters, and the areas of coverage that have been funded.