The Electric Vehicle (EV) market is changing and improving faster than anyone might have predicted, even when it comes to buses. Just a decade ago, investing in electric buses seemed like a very risky proposition. Now, the market is booming, and in Europe, E-buses are starting to outsell diesel buses.
The same can be true for schools! With each year, there are more reasons to invest in electric school buses, and fewer drawbacks.
Why 2025 Might Be the Year of Electric School Buses
1 - Longer ranges
Range used to be a big limiting factor in electric buses, due to the vehicle's huge size and weight. Now, that's not really an issue. Even lower-tier E-buses can easily travel 100+ miles, and versions with larger batteries can go 200-300 miles on a charge.
So for all but the biggest of rural districts, an E-bus has plenty of range to deliver your students.
2 - Better cold-weather reliability
Cold used to be another issue, as it could reduce batteries' capacity, or even prevent startup. The startup issues are fully fixed, with most buses coming with built-in heaters. And while cold will still marginally reduce range, most E-buses now go far enough that it simply doesn't matter.
3 - Reduced emissions
The biggest argument in favor of electric vehicles is their lack of atmospheric pollution. Controlled scientific studies have linked diesel fumes with impaired cognition in people, and lowered test scores among students. The diesel fumes coming out of your buses aren't only harming the environment - they're actively hurting your students' brains.
4 - Lowered ongoing costs
It's true that E-buses still cost a bit more to purchase than internal-combustion buses, but in the long term, they offer a lot of cost-savings. Maintenance on EVs is significantly cheaper and easier than on gas-burners, and the electricity is substantially less expensive than its diesel equivalent.
5 - Ongoing government benefits
The EPA offers rebates to schools in all fifty states, if they upgrade to green buses. In addition, many states offer their own rebates or tax benefits as well. Often, you can get plenty of assistance buying E-buses, if you look.
In short, there are a lot of reasons to invest in electric buses - perhaps now is the time to look into them!
BusBoss can also help you reduce costs, by optimizing your routes and transportation system. Contact us to learn more about our suite of products!
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