Electric School Buses Are Just Better Than Diesel Buses, That's All

The article highlights the growing shift from diesel to electric school buses in the United States, emphasizing the health, environmental, and economic benefits of electrification. Diesel exhaust poses significant health risks, particularly to children, whose developing lungs are more vulnerable. As a result, many school districts continue to adopt electric buses to improve air quality and reduce noise pollution, benefiting students, bus drivers, and local communities. The US firm Highland Electric Fleets exemplifies this trend by providing Electrification-as-a-Service (EaaS), handling the complexities of transitioning to electric buses so school districts can avoid upfront research and development burdens. Highland’s involvement in managing 500 electric buses for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games underscores the increasing scale and importance of electric school bus projects. Despite the clear advantages, the transition faces financial challenges. Electric school buses remain more expensive upfront than diesel models, partly due to the smaller market size limiting economies of scale and limited negotiating power of school districts. Funding for projects like the recent three-b