Electric School Buses for Florida

Why electric buses

Kids who ride an electric bus get a cleaner, quieter, and healthier commute, while school districts save money on fuel and maintenance. New electric buses are going to be rolling into towns across Florida. We want every community to benefit from cleaner air and healthier rides to school.

Each day in Florida, almost 850,000 schoolchildren hop on a diesel school bus. Collectively they travel more than 210 million miles per year! That’s a lot of time breathing diesel exhaust fumes for our kids and bus drivers.

Health impacts of diesel exhaust

Diesel exhaust is a toxic mixture of gases and particulates, including 40 known carcinogens. It is linked to numerous negative impacts on children’s health and learning. Diesel buses mean:

Asthma attacks and disproportionate impacts: Diesel exhaust is a known trigger for asthma attacks and other respiratory inflammation and irritation. According to the most recent data from the American Lung Association State of the Air Report, there are 225,235 cases of pediatric asthma and 1,695,317 cases of adult asthma in Florida.

Poor learning conditions: Diesel fumes are associated with headaches, nausea, poor concentration, impaired cognitive performance, and behavioral problems, making it difficult for students to learn. Asthma is a leading cause of school absenteeism. A recent study estimates that transitioning to clean school buses across the country would lead to more than 1.3 million additional student days of attendance per typical school year.

Benefits of clean electric buses

Electric school buses are good for students and the wider school community as well.

Quiet and peaceful journey: Students and drivers enjoy a quiet and smooth ride, due to reduced vibration and noise. Kids arrive at school calmer and ready to start the day, because they don’t have to shout to hear each other on the bus.

Productive learning: Kids who ride an emissions-free electric bus can benefit from improved cognitive function and fewer school days missed. Plus, electric school buses themselves are opportunities for students to see science, technology, engineering, and math lessons in real time.

Reduced maintenance and fuel costs: Compared to diesel buses, electric ones require less maintenance over their lifetime, saving dollars that can be better spent in the classroom. The regenerative braking system results in less wear, and there is no need for engine or exhaust system maintenance. Given the cost of electricity and fuel, electric school buses are more economical to run.

Healthier environment: Zero-emission buses mean cleaner air for the whole community. According to a 2023 report from the American Lung Association, transitioning to electric vehicles and non-combustible power by 2035 could save Florida $69.9 billion in public health benefits by 2050. We could avoid 624,000 lost workdays, 116,000 asthma attacks, and most importantly, 6,370 premature deaths.

Reliable energy grid: Electric buses can also support Florida’s clean energy efforts. Because school buses are on predictable schedules and are parked over 75% of the year, utilities can partner with schools to feed power back to the grid when the buses are not transporting students. Innovative vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and vehicle-to-building (V2B) technology pilot programs are assessing the potential for buses to serve as battery storage and power for school buildings.

Our kids deserve the best

Florida has close to 12,000 diesel buses in operation across the state. Though accessing federal funding for electric school buses can be a challenge for some districts, upfront costs of electric school buses are expected to decline as manufacturing scales up and battery costs decrease. Some experts say lifetime costs of electric school buses are about even with diesel buses, but this doesn’t take into account electric school buses’ considerable environmental and health benefits.

All kids deserve a clean, healthy ride to and from school. Electric school buses are good for public health, our communities, and a clean transportation system. Florida can be in the driver’s seat when it comes to protecting our children’s health from diesel pollution. Let’s get rolling toward clean energy now!