Electric School Buses in CT: Cost vs. Benefit

The wheels on the bus might go round and round, but the engine still runs on diesel. That’s got some state legislators abuzz with the idea of mandating all newly purchased or leased school buses to run on electricity.

Under proposed legislation in the Connecticut General Assembly, all school buses would have to be energy efficient and less expensive to run. And while some are aglow with the idea, others said the environmental benefits fizzle when compared to the cost.

The Connecticut Conference on Municipalities is perhaps the most vocal opponent. The Hartford-based organization said the bill would simply create yet another unfunded state mandate on towns and cities. And that would stretch towns beyond breaking point, according to CCM. 

“New school buses cost more than $100,000 each,” CCM said in recent testimony. “This price tag more than doubles — $250,000 to $300,000 — when you’re talking electric or hybrid, and that’s not including additional maintenance costs.”

Admittedly, electric school buses do increase fuel efficiency and reduce emission, CCM said. But a July 2010 Iowa State University Institute for Transportation study showed that recharging buses, insufficient battery charge, battery corrosion, and inadequate heating systems are of concern.

However, the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters, CTLCV, said the idea should at least be looked into a bit more.

"Anybody who is sitting behind a diesel engine is impacted by the emissions. So this would be great for our quality of air as well as saving on petroleum," said Kelly Kennedy, communications director for CTLCV.

The state has already taken steps to get buses to run cleaner. Several years ago the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection adopted the “Clean School Bus Program” in the New Haven school system. At the time more than 180 school buses were adapted to use ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel, which reportedly runs cleaner than regular diesel.

Children are vulnerable to the effects of diesel pollution, according to the Connecticut Alliance Against Diesel Pollution. The particulate matter can cause asthma attacks, and other respiratory symptoms. In-cabin particulate matter can be up to 10 times greater than outside air because exhaust leaks from the engine into the passenger cabin.

As such the state mandated that cabins be retrofitted to reduce in-cabin emissions.

The average school bus uses more than 1,700 gallons of fuel each year, according to Illinois-based IC Bus, one of the country’s largest school bus manufacturers. On the other hand, a hybrid bus uses only about 600 gallons. In addition, hybrid buses curb emissions about 40 percent.

Some Connecticut communities are already using electric school buses.

In 2009 the New Britain school district debuted a hybrid electric bus said to improve fuel efficiency by up to 65 percent and slash emissions up to 40 percent.

Locally, uses a hybrid bus replacing one of their diesel-fueled shuttles. Their buses transport people all over campus and into the nearby town center. Having one that reduces carbon emissions is even better.

However, they are more expensive to purchase, and maintain than conventional school buses

“These increased costs would place a heavy burden on local school budgets at a time when municipalities are already struggling to do more with less,” said CCM. “Mandating that all newly-purchased school buses be electric would make a bad situation at the local level even worse.”