Electric School Buses are Taking Students Back to School

Over 25 million K–12 students in the U.S. travel on nearly 500,000 diesel-powered school buses throughout the week.

However, that is now changing. By March 2022, 415 school districts or hired fleet operators had committed to deploying 12,275 electric school buses in a variety of locations, from big cities to rural counties, in 38 states, and on the territory of two Native American tribes.

More than 5 million tons of carbon dioxide are emitted nationwide by school buses running on diesel. They also produce air pollutants, particularly fine particles, that are hazardous to children’s health.

According to studies, exposure to diesel exhaust emissions worsens respiratory disorders, impairs lung function, and increases the likelihood of hospital admissions and ER visits.