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When you think of California, you might think of its sunny climate, landmarks like the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, or Silicon Valley. If you’re an auto geek, you might think of this state’s traditionally strict emissions policies and clean-air initiatives.
Recently, California set a new emissions goal. Per School Transportation News, the California Air Resources Board has set a goal of replacing all 30,000 of its school buses with electric ones by 2040.
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Sobering stats
Considering the latest air-pollution stats, many states would do well to follow California’s lead in electrifying their school-bus fleets. Per School Transportation News, switching out just 456,000 diesel buses in the U.S. with electric models would reduce the overall air pollution by 10.5 million tons. It would have the same effect as taking 1 million vehicles off of the road.
Additional perks of electric buses
Not only are electric buses more efficient, but they’re also cheaper to operate and maintain. Twin Rivers School District in Sacramento, for example, reduced its fuel costs by nearly 80 percent. That’s because the Lion brand electric buses they’re using cost 19 cents per mile —significantly cheaper than the 82 cents per mile cost associated with diesel and gas-fueled models. This efficiency nets the school a $15K savings annually when it comes to energy and upkeep.
Endorsement of the state’s new goal
Twin Rivers’ transportation director Timothy Shannon articulated the reason behind their school’s switch to electric technology. “The number one reason is to clean up the air for our kids.” Per School Transportation News, Twin Rivers holds the title for the nation’s largest fleet of zero-emission buses. The school recently added nine new buses and will add 10 more models soon.
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News Source: School Transportation News (here and here)
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