EV Common Questions
Everything You Need To Know About Electric School Buses
Diesel or electric?
School districts across the country are asking themselves that same question.
On one hand, diesel buses have provided reliable transportation for decades. You know the manufacturers. You have trusted mechanics. And your drivers feel comfortable behind the wheel.
But on the other hand, electric school buses are thought of by many as the future. With both less downtime and expected savings over the lifetime of the vehicle, the benefits are hard to ignore. Melanie Zehr, Vice President here at Kerlin, has received great feedback.
“What we’re hearing from customers is that electric buses are quiet, responsive, efficient, easy to charge, and they heat up well,” Zehr said. “The bus itself isn’t different. It’s just a matter of getting used to driving it.”
If you are considering making the jump, here are some of the most common questions. To get any questions answered, contact Kerlin today.
What Are The Advantages Of Electric School Buses?
Electric school buses have several advantages:
Lower operating costs
Less frequent maintenance
Potential federal funding
Zero tailpipe emissions
In addition to cleaner air for your passengers and the planet, many of these benefits come down to dollars and cents. After the initial high purchase price, electric buses are often less expensive than their fossil fuel counterparts. You can expect fewer breakdowns and you’re no longer at the mercy of high, fluctuating fuel prices.
What Are The Disadvantages Of Electric School Buses?
The two biggest disadvantages are cost and range. Although an electric bus is likely to save money in the long term, the initial purchase price is considerably higher. This difference can be potentially offset with different funding options.
The second is the range. Although the mileage gap between electric buses and diesel buses should shrink in the coming years, the current gap is significant. Currently, diesel buses travel roughly seven times further on a single tank compared to a single charge.
Are Any Funding Opportunities Available?
The high purchase price can make electric buses prohibitive.
However, there are several opportunities to reduce your out-of-pocket costs. Between 2022 and 2026, the EPA will offer over $5 billion in funding for zero-emission and low-emission buses. The goal is to get dated, inefficient buses off the road and replace them with more efficient alternatives, including electric school buses.
Are Electric School Buses Cost Efficient?
According to one report, the savings can be substantial. Even with the high purchase price, when factoring in the lifetime maintenance costs and the fuel savings, it’s estimated each electric school bus could save you as much as $50,000 over the life of the vehicle.
How Far Can An Electric Bus Travel?
Electric school buses can travel 100 miles or more on a single charge. That’s more than enough for the average route. With continued innovation, that number should continue to climb.
How Long Does It Take To Charge An Electric School Bus?
Charge times will vary depending on the charger. A 60kW charger could fully charge the bus in two to three hours while a 20kW charger may require eight to nine hours.
Where Are Electric School Buses Being Used?
Electric buses are being driven and delivered all over the country, but they are much more popular on the coasts.
With over 1,000 committed electric school buses as of March 2022, California is leading by a wide margin. The next closest state, Maryland, is at 337.
The same data set has the Hoosier state at just 16 committed electric school buses. Although this total is nowhere near the bottom of the nationwide list, Indiana lags behind neighboring states like Illinois and Michigan.
This small number should come as no surprise. In fact, you don’t need to go far back in time for the first electric school bus to run a route in Indiana. It occurred in January of 2021 for the Monroe County Community Schools, which led to the ordering of more than 20 buses from Kerlin Bus Sales. Monroe County Community Schools has had great success with the C2 Jouley and has since decided to go to a 100% electric fleet. To learn more about this district’s experience switching to electric, you can read this interview.
Recently, Monroe County Public Schools was part of a significant milestone. The district received the 200th Proterra Powered Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley battery-electric school bus from Thomas Built Buses.
“Kerlin Bus Sales is on a mission to make Indiana a pioneer for electric school bus operation and fleet management in the U.S.,” said Zehr. “MCCSC is a leading example of the many benefits beyond zero emissions that make the transition to electric worthwhile, including greater fuel cost savings as well as lower maintenance and operating costs.“
Can Electric School Buses Handle Harsh Weather?
It’s easy to picture an electric school bus completing its route when the sun is shining. But what about when the weather takes a turn?
In places like Indiana, with extreme and unpredictable road conditions, there’s hesitancy to embrace electric. The biggest cause for concern is the cold. However, one district in Alaska has shown that an electric school bus can perform well even in subzero temperatures, with the lowest recording at -48.
“Thomas Built Buses has two winters of buses in service here in Indiana,” Zehr said. “The buses heat well with minimal battery loss and no block heaters or fuel-fired heaters, thus making them a complete zero emission school bus.”
Are Electric School Buses Safe?
Safety is a common concern for electric school buses. While diesel models are considered by many to be tried and true, electric buses might be thought of with hesitation.
Many of those concerns tend to center on the battery of the bus, but manufacturers are not taking the topic lightly. One in particular, Thomas Built Buses partnered with Proterra, a leading manufacturer of electric vehicle technology. Along with ballistic-grade aluminum, the Proterra battery packs have a system in place in the event of a thermal incident. The affected cells are isolated and the neighboring cells are protected.
With these types of features, along with ongoing innovation, electric school buses are a safe transportation option that will continue to get even safer.
Air quality is something else to keep in mind. The reality is that emissions are a school safety issue. Even though diesel has become considerably cleaner in recent years, the exhaust is still a factor to consider. Many electric school buses emit zero tailpipe emissions.
What Are Transportation Directors Saying?
“As we continue to strive to provide the best pupil transportation experience for our students, we are always looking for improved innovations in our industry. We are pleased with the direction our diesel engine is going with improvements that have been made, however the zero emission approach of the EV Thomas Jouley caught our attention,” said Zach McKinney, Director of Transportation at Hamilton Southeastern Schools. “There are other alternative fuel options on the market but we do not feel they offer the same sustainability and efficiency that the EV line provides. The Jouley can help us provide a cleaner approach and help to lower operating costs.
How Does An Electric School Bus Compare?
If you’re concerned about how an electric school bus might compare to other buses, it can be helpful to look at the numbers. For example, here’s a breakdown of the Saf-T-Liner® C2 Jouley®:
Up to 81
Up to 138 miles
As few as two hours
0-60 in 49 seconds
65 mph
Zero
Where Can You Buy An Electric School Bus?
Numerous companies will sell you a school bus, but for such a significant purchase, it’s important to find a partner with electric experience.
Here at Kerlin, we have our EV sales specialist who is happy to talk through your specific questions and needs. We pride ourselves on finding the latest EV technology available in the school bus industry from our Jouley C2 school bus to the infrastructure needed to charge our school buses. To get started, you can contact us today.