New Yorkers remain skeptical about electric school buses, despite reports showing their benefits.
The state’s mandate to electrify its entire school bus fleet by 2035 has been met with questions and misinformation. But a World Resources Institute report finds many benefits to switching from diesel buses, which emit pollutants harmful to kids’ health.
While cold weather can impact electric school bus operations, Sue Gander, electric school bus initiative director with the World Resources Institute, said there are ways around these challenges.
“Things like pre-heating the vehicle so you’re able to have a full charge when it’s time to go,” said Gander. “There are different driving techniques and using things like regenerative braking that recharges the battery while on the road, and making use of that.”
Many states known for cold climates have seen great success with electric buses.
In New York, the Newfield Central School District in Tompkins County saw improvements in fuel costs, with bus drivers acknowledging it’s a change from diesel buses.
But the state’s ability to purchase more electric buses is in limbo after the Trump administration ended Inflation Reduction Act tax credits for districts to buy these buses.
Some New York lawmakers oppose the mandate, saying the state is moving too fast. State Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-Rome, called for a moratorium on the mandate because it might be harder for smaller rural school districts to keep up.
But this isn’t an overnight switch, and will only begin in 2027.
Gander noted that electric school buses will become cheaper as more of them get on the road. She said as the transition moves forward, the tipping point will be total cost-of-ownership parity.
“At that point in time, it would be the same amount of money to run a diesel bus for its lifetime, usually around 15 years, as it would be for an electric school bus,” said Gander. “Right now, we aren’t at that parity. There’s still a gap of around $150,000.”
While this might sound low, Gander said this is a lot for school districts already struggling to afford other expenses.
Although federal funds are being cut short for electric school buses, $500 million was allocated for this program in the 2023 Environmental Bond Act to help school districts make this transition.
Edwin is a reporter and producer in North Tonawanda, New York. He’s previously reported for the Niagara Gazette and the Ithaca Times. Edwin got an early start in radio interning for WBFO-88.7FM, NPR’s Buffalo affiliate. In 2018, he graduated from SUNY Buffalo State College with a B.A. in Journalism, and in 2022, graduated from Syracuse University with an M.S. in Communications.