Curbing Climate Change Should Include Electric School Buses

MotoringCurbing Climate Change Should Include Electric School BusesSchool buses achieve about six miles per gallon, making them among the least efficient vehicles on the roadFebruary 28, 2022school bus by homeAll images are courtesy of Lion Electric

School buses driving on their routes achieve about six miles per gallon, making them among the least efficient vehicles on the road. This inefficiency is a function of their short and congested routes, their consistent stopping and starting, and their lengthy periods of idling. All of these factors, along with their diesel power plants, also contribute to their releasing more emissions than most vehicles. This contributes to the poor air quality experienced in many underprivileged neighborhoods—which, due to institutional racism and classism, exist in highly trafficked or industrial corridors. It also makes the air quality on and around the average school bus abysmal, an issue compounded by the fact that it is being inhaled into the developing lungs of young children.

Yet every single one of these liabilities also makes school buses excellent candidates for electrification. Because they’re able to recuperate energy from slowing and braking in stop-and-go traffic, electric vehicles are more efficient in congested areas. Because they do not release any tailpipe emissions, they do not contribute to pollution or respiratory issues. And because their routes are generally quite short, and there are lengthy periods each day and night when they’re idle, range and charging time are generally irrelevant.

school bus being charged

Lion Electric, a Quebec-based company, is one of North America’s largest producers of pure battery-electric-powered school buses. 

But, for many years, when municipalities needed to purchase vehicles to move children to and from school, the only choice was petroleum power. “I’ve been involved in transportation for over three decades, and, in the early part of my career, I remember walking into a bus yard where 300 buses were being fired up at the same time, all running on diesel fuel. And we would joke and say, I love the smell of diesel in the morning,” says Nate Baguio, senior vice president of commercial development for Lion Electric, a Quebec-based company that is one of North America’s largest producers of pure battery-electric-powered school buses. “But we didn’t. It was awful. And it was a terrible workplace from the standpoint of the pollution, as well as the impacts on health. But there weren’t really any other options.”

Lion and other bus manufacturers like Blue Bird and Thomas are trying to solve that. And President Biden’s prescient environmental funding priorities are providing impetus. “With the infrastructure bill, there’s a significant amount of money to move conversion along,” Baguio says. In fact, the bill provides over $2.5 billion in incentives to help spur municipalities’ capacity to invest in battery-powered buses. Combined with state and local incentives, this money can provide price parity for electric power when compared with diesel power, or even make it cheaper.

school bus in city

President Biden’s environmental funding priorities will provide over $2.5 billion in incentives to help spur municipalities’ capacity to invest in battery-powered buses.

When municipalities factor in health benefits like the diminution in respiratory illness, or the rise in real estate values in trafficked corridors, the prices diminish even further. And this is before considering long-term running costs. “The number of parts in an electric vehicle versus a diesel vehicle is about 10 times fewer,” Baguio says. “So, you’re storing fewer parts, you’re buying fewer parts, and there’s a lot fewer things that can break. Your costs to maintain go way down.”

In addition, electric buses offer unique equities. “If you buy a diesel truck, it’s a diesel truck. If you buy an electric truck, you now have a power plant on wheels,” Baguio says. The bus batteries can power a school or a shelter during an emergency, or a concession stand at a school sporting event.

boy walks off bus

While a manufacturing facility in Illinois will soon build 20,000 electric vehicles annually, the plan is to have 480,000 school buses in the U.S. that are running on battery power.

Erin Schaff

Moreover, when the batteries’ efficiency diminishes after 10 or 15 years, they can be removed and used as storage for solar or wind energy for another 15 years. Subsequent to that, most of the metals in the battery cells are recyclable.

Lion sees nothing but upside in its future. So much so, that it is currently constructing a manufacturing facility in Illinois where it will soon build 20,000 electric vehicles annually. Hopefully, it won’t be long before all 480,000 school buses in the U.S. are running on battery power. “It’s just critically important that we make this transition. And we are making this transition,” Baguio says. “This is inevitable. This is happening. This is a better thing.”

Exploreadmotoring

Introducing Jobbguru: Your Gateway to Career Success

The ultimate job platform is designed to connect job seekers with their dream career opportunities. Whether you're a recent graduate, a seasoned professional, or someone seeking a career change, Jobbguru provides you with the tools and resources to navigate the job market with ease. 

Take the next step in your career with Jobbguru:

Don't let the perfect job opportunity pass you by. Join Jobbguru today and unlock a world of career possibilities. Start your journey towards professional success and discover your dream job with Jobbguru.

Originally posted on: https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/curbing-climate-change-should-include-electric-school-buses