Are There Electric School Buses?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

Electric school buses are certainly not the most exciting electric vehicles on the market, but they are a

direct

way to improve the air that children breathe every day. Well, every school day, anyway.

Do electric school buses exist?

In 2014, the first production-model all-electric school bus was delivered to the Kings Canyon Unified School District in California’s San Joaquin Valley. The Class-A school bus was built by Trans Tech Bus, using an electric powertrain control system developed by Motiv Power Systems, of Foster City, California.

How much does an EV school bus cost?

An electric bus can cost

as much as $400,000

; the utility will absorb the $200,000 or greater cost difference between a diesel and an electric bus because many school districts find that prohibitive.

Who makes electric school buses?


Blue Bird

has a rich history of bringing new technology to the school bus space and is the undisputed leader in alternative-power school buses, having more than 20,000 low and zero emission buses on the road. Blue Bird manufactures school buses at two facilities in Fort Valley, Georgia.

How many electric school buses are in the US?

As of August 2021, fewer than 1% of school buses are electric. Just

1,164 electric school buses

have been committed — meaning announced, procured, delivered or in operation.

Why are electric school buses better?


Electricity is less expensive than diesel fuel and has more stable prices

. Electric school buses also require less maintenance than those powered by diesel. … This is particularly relevant for school buses, which are used less often in the summer months during peak air conditioning needs.

How much does an electric bus cost?

The average cost for a big electric bus is

around $750,000

, a bit more than the $435,000 average cost for diesel. Running costs, though, are much lower for e-buses. Antelope Valley Transit Authority in Los Angeles County told TechCrunch that it saves an average of $46,000 per bus per year for electric versus diesel.

How much does a school bus driver make?

Annual Salary Hourly Wage Top Earners $42,500 $20 75th Percentile $38,000 $18 Average

$33,891

$16
25th Percentile $29,500 $14

How much does a bus driver make?

How Much Does a Bus Driver Make? Bus Drivers made a

median salary of $43,030 in 2019

. The best-paid 25 percent made $57,920 that year, while the lowest-paid 25 percent made $33,070.

Do school buses use gas or diesel?

95 percent of all school buses in America are powered by

diesel engines

because of their reliability, durability and safety. Over half of these (54 percent) rely on the cleanest, near-zero emission diesel engine technology.

Is Lion electric profitable?

For the three-month periods ended March 31 (Unaudited) 2021 2020 $ $ Revenue 6,225,478 1,228,439

How much is a lion electric bus?

Lion offers two battery options, using either one or two 80-kWh packs that will give either around 75 or 155 miles. A two-pack minibus will cost around $250,000, while the company’s bigger school bus – which holds up to 70 people – can cost

up to $350,000

.

How much does a school bus cost?

How much does a new school bus cost? A new school bus will cost

between $50,000 to $80,000

, or more, depending on the size and features of the new school bus.

How many buses are in the US?

At

over 100,500 bus registrations

, California outnumbered the number of bus registrations recorded in other U.S. states in 2019. Florida also ranked highly, with just under 60,000 bus registrations for the same year.

What brand are school buses?


Blue Bird Corporation

, Fort Valley, Georgia
Key people Phil Horlock, President and CEO Products School buses School pupil activity buses Revenue US$932 million (2016)

What are white school buses for?

A pilot program in North Carolina in the early 1990s tested the theory that a school bus with a white roof would make for

a cooler experience for the passengers

. The results were profound. The program found white-topped buses had internal temperatures an average of 10 degrees cooler than yellow topped buses.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.