Clean rides for kids and the planet 

Are electric school buses cleaner than other school buses? 

Yes, electric school buses are the cleanest school bus option available.

Electric school buses produce no tailpipe emissions, reducing students’ exposure to harmful pollutants like nitrogen oxides, which contribute to respiratory and heart disease.

Nitrogen oxides, high levels of which are found in diesel and propane exhaust, are associated with respiratory health issues. Nitrogen oxides also contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, known as smog, which further compounds respiratory illnesses.

The tailpipe emissions of diesel-burning school buses have been shown to remain in the cabin of the bus during the ride, continuing to expose students to the harm of these air pollutants. Because electric school buses are the only type of school bus without tailpipe emissions or a fossil fuel-burning engine, they are the cleanest option for students.

And propane-burning school buses emit dangerous pollution at levels generally comparable to or higher than current diesel-burning models, according to data from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory AFLEET tool. In fact, propane-burning school buses emit more carbon monoxide than diesel-burning school buses and just as many greenhouse gases — the only benefit of propane-burning buses over diesel are for nitrogen oxide emissions, AFLEET data demonstrates. 

Can electric school buses help reduce greenhouse gas emissions? 

Yes, electric school buses can play a key role in cutting emissions of the greenhouse gases driving climate change.

Electric school buses generate less than half of the greenhouse gas emissions of diesel- or propane-burning school buses — even when accounting for the generation of electricity, as well as the bus operations. And as renewable energy sources continue to increase as a percentage of grid power generation, the electric grid will get cleaner over time and the total greenhouse gas emissions associated with electric school buses will continue to decline.

The transition to electric school buses can also help facilitate a tipping point for electrification across the medium-and-heavy duty vehicle sector. As manufacturing supply chains and charging infrastructure come online to support school bus electrification, barriers to electrifying other types of large vehicles will be reduced, resulting in further emissions reductions. 

Are propane school buses clean enough for students? 

No, propane buses burn fossil fuels to operate, resulting in tailpipe emissions of harmful pollutants. Propane-burning school buses also generate more than twice as many greenhouse gas emissions as electric school buses — and while greenhouse gas emissions generated from electric school bus use will decrease over time as grids transition to renewable energy, propane-burning school buses lock in greenhouse gas emissions for years to come.

You can learn more about the dangers of propane-burning school bus emissions here.

How does school bus pollution impact student health and cognitive development?

Diesel exhaust fumes have proven links to serious physical health issues, including asthma, cancer and other respiratory illnesses — and there is evidence that children are particularly susceptible to the negative health impacts of diesel exhaust. The dangers of diesel pollution are so pronounced that the World Health Organization has labeled diesel exhaust a known carcinogen.

Emissions from diesel buses also have proven links to negative cognitive health impacts like lower test scores. Overall, air pollution has been shown to impact academic performance by causing illnesses that result in absences and leading to cognitive impairment that is observable in test scores. 

Are electric school bus batteries safe? 

Yes, electric school bus batteries are subject to very high, globally-recognized automotive safety standards and have robust safety mechanisms built in. And while fires (also called “thermal events”) are extremely rare with any type of school bus, they are even less likely for electric vehicles than for fossil fuel-burning vehicles. In a report detailing hundreds of thousands of vehicles over years on the road, the Swedish government’s Authority for Social Protection and Preparedness found that gas- and diesel-burning passenger vehicles have a 1 in 1,300 chance of catching fire, compared to a 1 in 38,000 chance of fire for electric vehicles and hybrids – indicating that fossil fuel-burning passenger vehicles are 29 times more likely to catch fire. 

As with any new technology, it’s important to familiarize key staff with proper safety protocols. School districts and fleet operators should work with their dealer or manufacturer to organize trainings for maintenance staff and coordinate with first responders in their area. Maintenance crews and first responders are typically used to working with low voltage batteries but should be trained on the high voltage batteries powering ESBs. You can learn more about electric school bus battery safety here.

Equitable transition 

Isn’t air pollution experienced equally by all populations? 

No, while everyone is impacted by air pollution, many historically underserved communities are more likely to be exposed to harmful pollutants. In fact, due to decades of racist and discriminatory laws and policies, communities of color face on-road fine particulate matter pollution that is 61% to 75% higher than for white residents.

In the U.S., race and ethnicity are more significant factors than income level in exposure to air pollution. Ignoring race in policymaking will worsen pollution in the communities already most harmed by air contaminants. 

And when it comes to school transportation, low-income students, students from Black households, and children with disabilities are all more likely to ride the bus to school than their peers, meaning they are more likely to be exposed to exhaust from diesel-burning school buses. This disproportionate impact of harmful air pollution is why it’s vital that the transition to clean transportation be equitable. 

What does an equitable transition to electric school buses mean?

An equitable transition to electric school buses means that the communities most impacted by diesel exhaust pollution have access to the benefits of electric school buses first — and that members of those communities are empowered throughout the transition process. You can learn more here.

How can the electric school bus transition help address historic inequities? 

The transition to electric school buses across the U.S. can represent an important contribution to the effort to address the history of discrimination and exclusion across the education, transportation, housing, energy, manufacturing and political systems. 

We know that without proper consideration of these historic and current inequities, the transition to electric school buses could also produce unintended negative consequences and exacerbate harm in these systems. However, with thoughtful consideration and direct input from impacted communities, an equitable transition to electric school buses could help to improve health of the students and communities that have faced the highest levels of fine air particulate matter pollution, to create policies that prioritize equity and community engagement and to reduce waste through repowers and battery recycling.

By ensuring that communities are engaged throughout the process, and that those who have been most impacted by the harms of diesel exhaust pollution have the opportunity to experience the benefits of electric school buses first, we can begin to address some of the historic inequities being felt by communities across the country. You can learn more about how we’re working to center equity in the transition to electric school buses here.

Is the transition to electric school buses happening equitably?

It appears that the first electric school buses are going to communities who have suffered the most from diesel exhaust pollution. As of October 2024, 76% of committed ESBs are located in school districts with the highest percentages of non-white and/or Hispanic residents, 59% of ESB commitments are in districts with the highest shares of PM2.5 levels, and 56% of committed ESBs are located in school districts with the highest shares of low-income households. But an equitable transition is about more than the distribution of the buses. We must do more to get the benefits of electric school buses to the students that need them most and ensure the transition uplifts communities. You can learn more here.

Prices, models, charging and range 

How much do electric school buses cost? 

While electric school buses have higher upfront purchase prices than other types of school buses, with available funding the total cost to own an electric school bus can actually be hundreds of thousands of dollars less for the school district.

Right now, there are record levels of funding and financing available for electric school buses and our research suggests that compared to a new diesel-burning school bus, a new electric school bus can save around $100,000 in lifetime fuel and maintenance costs, depending on circumstances. Experts also anticipate electric school bus upfront price declines over the next decade as battery costs decline and the electric vehicle industry achieves efficiencies of scale in component markets and manufacturing.

Upfront prices for an electric school bus can vary widely based on the type, manufacturer and specifications. For Type A electric school buses, base price can range from around $263,000 to $429,000. For Type C electric school buses, base price can range from about $339,000 to $524,000. For Type D electric school buses, base price can range from around $375,000 to $556,000. These price figures are based on public figures identified by WRI’s Electric School Bus Initiative and available in 2024. You can find funding and financing options that can help offset these upfront purchase prices here.

Increasingly, there are also options for repowered diesel buses that run on electricity, which can often have lower purchase prices. To learn more about the upfront price of electric school buses, read the ESB Initiative’s Electric School Bus U.S. Market Study and Buyer’s Guide and work with your local dealer for accurate price quotes for your area. 

How do electric school bus fuel and maintenance costs compare to diesel-burning school buses? 

Electric school buses have the potential to lower maintenance and fuel costs over time compared to diesel-burning school buses. Our research suggests that compared to a new diesel-burning school bus, a new electric school bus can save an average of $6,000 every year on operational expenditures, depending on circumstances.

And our analysis suggests that a school district operating an electric school bus can expect to see over $100,000 in lifetime fuel and maintenance savings, compared to an equivalent diesel-burning bus.

What funding and financing options are available for electric school buses? 

Funding and financing options can help offset the upfront purchase price of electric school buses. There are currently historic levels of funding available for the purchase of electric school buses, including the U.S. EPA’s $5 billion Clean School Bus Program.

Funding and financing options include:

Grants – awards made to qualifying applicants, for a specific purpose or use case, deemed the worthiest based on set criteria.

Rebates – a reimbursement after certain eligible purchases of pre-approved equipment, including the fully reimbursable Tax Credit for Qualified Commercial Clean Vehicles (section 45W) and the Tax Credit for Alternative Fuel Refueling Property (section 30C) that were both authorized in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.

Vouchers – a credit applied “on the hood” immediately at purchase that lowers the price paid by the recipient.

Financing (e.g. loans) – an arrangement that provides capital for costs today, to be paid back over a future period, often with a small premium (interest).

Learn more about the funding and financing options available, including alternative business models, here. 

How do electric school buses charge, and how long do they take to charge? 

Electric school buses charge via electric current. Typically, electric school buses dock at a charging station fitted with an electric school bus charger. Because of school buses’ regular schedules and breaks between use, they are particularly well-suited to electrification and the associated charging needs. 
 
There are two primary types of electric school bus chargers: Level 2 chargers and Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) chargers. Level 2 chargers use alternating current and often cost significantly less than DCFC chargers. DCFC chargers are the fastest chargers available and utilize direct current but are typically the most expensive chargers on the market.  
 
The amount of time needed to charge an electric school bus can vary based on several factors, primarily battery size and type of charger. Level 2 chargers can take between 5.5 and 13 hours to fully charge an electric school bus battery. DCFC fast chargers take 1 to 4.5 hours to fully charge an electric school bus battery. You can learn more about charge times and electric school bus batteries in the ESB Initiative’s Electric School Bus U.S. Market Study and Buyer’s Guide. 

What electric school bus models are available? 

As of March 2024, there were 26 models of electric school buses available for purchase in the United States, and established manufacturers were expanding their offerings based on the potential growth of the electric school bus market. Electric school bus models are available for Types A, C, and D school buses for both newly manufactured and repowered electric school buses. 
 
Type A buses are small, typically accommodating fewer than 36 passengers and offer the most variety of makes and models. Type C buses, with passenger capacities between 40 and 83 and a curved hood that increases front visibility, make up 70% of the overall school bus fleet and are the most commercially mature electric school bus market. Type D, the largest of school buses seating up to 90 students, make up approximately 20% of the school bus market. To learn more about the electric school bus models available, read the ESB Initiative’s Electric School Bus U.S. Market Study and Buyer’s Guide. 

How far can electric school buses drive on a single charge? 

The advertised or “nameplate” range — the range listed for the battery to only power the propulsion system — of current electric school bus models is from 100 to 300 miles, enough to reliably cover most routes in operation. You can find electric school bus range by model in the ESB Initiative’s Electric School Bus U.S. Market Study and Buyer’s Guide. 

How does cold weather impact electric school bus performance?

Electric school buses successfully operate in all climates – including extreme cold – thanks to battery thermal management systems that maintain an internal temperature range for optimal and safe battery function. In fact, electric school buses on the road today are operating well in cold weather states including Michigan and Utah as well as parts of Canada. In Michigan, one school district has even found that their electric school buses perform better in winter than fossil fuel-burning buses due to the electric school buses’ better handling in snowy conditions.

Extreme cold reduces electric school buses’ range, so proper route planning is key – just as it is for every school bus. Some districts choose to select larger batteries or use auxiliary heaters rather than the bus’s electric heating system in order to preserve battery life, while other school districts have found they are able to run long routes in cold conditions using just the bus’s electric heating system. In Utah, Salt Lake City School District has found that cold weather decreased their electric school bus’s range, but mid-day charging and regenerative braking allow their electric school buses to run even the district’s longest routes, 92 miles, while using heating in cold mountain temperatures.

Range in cold weather will differ for each school district based on route needs, terrain, heating and other factors – that's why it’s important to carefully plan routes in all climates, particularly when cold weather decreases a bus’s range. But with longer ranges than ever before and battery thermal management systems, electric school buses are already meeting the needs of cold weather schools across the U.S. and Canada.

You can learn more about electric school bus range and how school districts are using smart route planning to deliver clean rides for kids even in the coldest weather in our article, All About Operating Electric School Buses in Cold Weather. And you can learn more about how to manage range in cold weather from Atlas Public Policy and the Department of Energy’s Joint Office of Energy and Transportation. 

How can electric school buses support a cleaner, more reliable electric grid?

Electric utilities are exploring how electric school buses can function as large mobile batteries to support the power grid, enable greater renewable electricity generation by storing the energy for use at a later time and provide disaster relief, through the use of vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technologies. 
 
The electric school bus battery’s stored energy can help stabilize fluctuating electrical conditions, alleviate the need to start-up additional power generation sources by reducing peak energy needs and discharge energy stored in the batteries to provide mobile emergency power to shelters and other essential facilities. 
 
You can learn more about V2X technology here.