Electric School Bus Progress
Discover how electric school buses are transforming student transportation across the country with lower emissions, reduced costs, and improved health outcomes.
Click on a state below to see how electric school buses are doing in your state
Hear from School Districts Themselves
"Most of the winter it’s 30 to 35 below, when it’s up to 20 below that’s good day and it’s performed extremely well," Aurin said.
Kremmling, CO
"They do very well,” Woody Woodwick, the Service Attendant for Havre Public Schools said, “They stay warm, and they have a great traction control system, so they're very surefooted on the ice."
Havre, MT
"As far as how they drive and getting around in snow conditions, that has not been a problem. In fact, Wilson said the weight of the bus is more evenly distributed making it blow right through snow."
Fairfield, MT
"When the temperature drops below 20 degrees during the day, she said she plugs in the bus to maintain the current internal temperature. She said she is always amazed by how her electric bus handles ice, snow, bridges, and any other inclement weather."
Three Rivers, MI
"On the other side of the state, they’ve performed well so far in frigid temps. “Really, for the most part, it hasn’t been anything different from a regular bus,” Ryan Krohn, Palmyra-Eagle School District superintendent, confirmed.
His district was the first to get the buses in Wisconsin, with delivery last October. The buses proved themselves through an entire winter."
Palmyra, WI
"So far, I think it’s been pretty well considering how cold it’s been, we haven’t had any issues with it not starting. Again, like everything that’s new, you know, when you break in those new things, you get a few kinks and you’ve got to work them out,” said John Lawson, facility manager and transportation director.
Glen Ullin, ND
"It gets pretty darn cold in Walla Walla, and we’ve had no problems running our fleet during the wintertime,” said Wade Smith, superintendent of public instruction for Walla Walla Public Schools. "In fact," Smith said, "the electric buses have better all-around traction because the battery pack is in the middle of the bus, as opposed to an engine in the front or rear of a diesel-powered bus."
Walla Walla, WA
"Detractors often raise questions about cold weather performance, but former Williamsfield schools Superintendent Tim Farquer said that during cold stretches last winter, some neighboring districts experienced issues with their diesel bus engines “gumming up,” while Williamsfield’s electric buses ran without problems."
Williamsfield, IL
"And it’s diesel buses that pose a challenge in the cold, winter months, said Hinkle. These electric ones are stored and charged inside."
Logan, IA
"During the recent cold snap in the Midwest, the electric bus kept up, using a little more energy, but not enough to cause a problem."
Albert City, IA
"So far, that cold hasn’t affected the battery performance. As for the cost, the electric bills for the bus have been averaging $432 a month. He said that’s about two weeks worth of running with a diesel bus."
Campton, KY
"We haven’t encountered any problems in the winter, even with colder temperatures and if it’s zero degrees in the morning. The only thing cold weather impacts is the range and that it takes longer to charge."
Bar Harbor, ME
"As the bus drivers put the new electric bus to the test, officials said there has been no issues with the snow or cold during the winter."
Pellston, MI
"The new vehicles sailed through the recent cold snap compared to accounts of trouble with electric passenger automobiles. Kinzer said school buses have a lot more safety features and failsafe design than earlier transit buses."
Hillsville, VA
"Our first thought was, ‘There’s no way an electric bus can be successful in the mountains,'” Peppard said. “We were concerned about the ability of the bus to have power, to have torque — to really do what our buses need to do. As it turns out, this bus actually has three times the torque of any diesel bus in our fleet."
Kremmling, CO
"Operationally, the district reports that their electric school buses perform extremely well on longer and hilly routes —even outperforming diesel-burning school buses in Fleming County’s hilly terrain, based on testimonies from the drivers.
In fact, Moran notes that their electric school buses “run twice before we need them charged” and “take a hill a whole lot better than a diesel bus."
Fleming, KY
"They're very quiet, they definitely give you a lot of acceleration, and they don't slow down on hills,” said Ronnie King, the product director for DATTCO. “I've had from the drivers that they enjoy driving them, they like the quietness, they like the smooth acceleration, and they feel safer driving them because the buses have regenerative braking, which means as you lead off the throttle, it takes the momentum and puts it through the motor back into the batteries."
New Britain, CT
"I noticed that it has an easier time going up hills than our diesels do,” said Nielson. “We took it out on the highway and up a big hill that the diesels usually struggle with, and it was doing pretty good with not slowing down and putting enough power out."
Wymore, NE
"The BEAST handles as good, or even better, than a conventional diesel school bus. It made every turn and climbed every hill the same as a diesel, doing everything we asked it to do,” Miller added."
Mount Zion, WV
"Our district’s diesel fuel costs are tremendous,” said Heath Oates, superintendent of western Missouri’s El Dorado Springs R-II School District, in an interview with the Daily Yonder. “My initial estimates show we’re going to save around $200,000 a year, which is the cost of four beginning teachers with benefits."
El Dorado Springs, MO
"EV buses accomplish the same goal of getting the kids to school safely but in an even better way—no diesel fumes exposure, higher fuel savings and a quieter ride for everyone, “ Morgan says. “It’s a win-win."
Geronimo, OK
"I’ve driven a diesel bus, a propane bus, and now electrical bus. And as far as handling and more control — because I’ve got weight, there’s four batteries underneath the bus here that weigh 400 pounds a piece — so I’ve got 1,600 pounds of weight from the front seat to the wheel well. In the other buses, all the weight was in the front. I’ve got more control, and better traction, and they handle better,” said Godbee."
Garretson, South Dakota
"Greater efficiency means the school district’s operational expenses for the bus decreased 51 percent, saving 999 gallons of diesel fuel over the school year. The electric drivetrain also had no issues, another factor in significantly lower direct maintenance costs than the diesel buses in the fleet to which it was compared. The report concluded that electric buses will likely be a beneficial technology for other rural Maine schools."
Bar Harbor, ME
"Farmers were the first environmentalists,” Dr. Barfield said. “We recognize that in order to have good crops, we must have clean air."
Moore Haven, FL
"When the electric school buses are not in use, Williamsfield will use the batteries to deliver power back to the school, supporting the schools’ overall operations while further reducing costs, especially at times of peak energy demand."
Williamsfield, IL
"From their preliminary experience, they have seen cost savings in excess of $5,000 annually in general maintenance and fuel costs per bus… Even while running the heaters, which are known to draw down the battery, buses were returning with more than half of their range."
Louisa County, VA
"Today, Fleming County Schools has seven electric school buses on the road with 17 more on the way, and they’re already seeing major cost savings. Initial projections show monthly fuel savings of $12,000, and that figure will increase to $17,000 as more electric school buses are deployed."
Fleming County, KY
"In rural districts with a large proportion of students bused from over a large geographical area, replacing diesel buses with electric buses can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality,” he says… In addition, he notes, “the grants also free up rural districts’ limited resources for other school expenses."
"Before the bus arrived, Knox needed to address community concerns, which included bus flammability, its range and cost. To alleviate concerns, Turgeon shared a flame retardant report showing the body does not ignite; assured parents the bus would be used on fixed routes; and showed the district only paid $7,500 for the bus thanks to grants. Turgeon and the school board leveraged multiple approaches to share information: ride and drives, bus tours in partnership with Lewis County REC, printing information in the local newspaper and answering questions on their Facebook page."
Knox County, MO
"You get regenerative braking that not only helps braking by slowing the vehicle but also adds a small bit of range back to the bus. I’m very satisfied with the range ultimately based on what was stated and what we are getting out of them."
Steamboat Springs, CO
"The two routes that were selected continue to operate with the electric buses today. The bus that runs out of town travels about 100.5 miles roundtrip a day (61.5 miles in the a.m. and 40 miles in the p.m., the difference due to the district’s bell times in the afternoon) and is the district’s longest route. It even drives on dirt roads. After logging 45,000 miles in four years, the tires on the bus serving the rural route have yet to be replaced."
Three Rivers, MI
"For these buses, the district prioritized assigning the buses to the longest routes (92 miles per day) and those that drive through western Salt Lake City, where students and communities disproportionately experience higher levels of air pollution. Even on the coldest days, when temperatures fall below 30 degrees F and electric heater use draws around 18% of range, the buses can cover the longest routes by utilizing midday charging and regenerative braking."
Salt Lake City, UT
"Transitioning to ESBs has resulted in significant cost savings for the district, as Farquer estimates that electricity for ESBs is 94% cheaper than diesel, delivering $6,500 in annual savings per school bus."
Williamsfield, IL
"Beyond the maintenance costs, the district was spending thousands of dollars on diesel fuel, at a rate of approximately $0.60 per mile. Now, with their new electric school buses, they pay just $0.12 per mile for energy, an 80% per mile cost savings."
Fleming County, KY
"Greater efficiency means the school district’s operational expenses for the bus decreased 51 percent, saving 999 gallons of diesel fuel over the school year. The electric drivetrain also had no issues, another factor in significantly lower direct maintenance costs than the diesel buses in the fleet to which it was compared."
Bar Harbor, ME
"The Three Rivers transportation department also shared that the district has saved approximately $44,000 in fuel costs and $45,000 in maintenance and repair costs... These operational savings have been returned to the district's General Fund and are being used to purchase instructional materials for students."
Three Rivers, MI
"Almost two years after transitioning to electric buses, Woodwick reported savings that sliced per-mile costs in half compared to diesel, better mechanic operations like doors opening and closing in subzero temperatures and a perk for drivers: a remote start so that drivers arrive to pre-warmed buses in the mornings and afternoons."
Havre, MT
"Oh, we were very happy,” said Brad Redmond, WFPS transportation director. “We saw significant savings on our energy costs, and it ran really well as far as being able to go out and do the route."
West Fargo, ND
"After one year of having the buses in service, the school has seen $15,000 to $20,000 fuel cost savings."
Garretson, SD
"From their preliminary experience, they have seen cost savings in excess of $5,000 annually in general maintenance and fuel costs per bus… Even while running the heaters, which are known to draw down the battery, buses were returning with more than half of their range."
Louisa County, VA
"Things are going very well with the electric buses,” said WWPS Transportation Director John Griffith. “They’re saving the taxpayers about $500 each month through the difference between diesel and electric costs — even through the wintertime."
Walla Walla, WA
"In just four weeks, the district reduced its bus operating costs by 45 cents a mile and saved over $1,300."
Pellston, MI
"In the short time the buses have been in service, they've been driven 5,600 miles and saved the district more than $2,200 in fossil fuel expenses."
Lone Grove, OK
"So far, that cold hasn’t affected the battery performance. As for the cost, the electric bills for the bus have been averaging $432 a month. He said that’s about two weeks worth of running with a diesel bus."
Wolfe County, KY
"Walker said the electric school bus only uses roughly $4 a day in electricity compared to $20 a day in diesel for a regular school bus."
Bigfork, MT
Electric School Bus Growth Timeline
2015
12
Manufacturers
2017
28
Available Models
2021
435
School Districts
2023
3,200+
Electric School Buses