Almost two thirds (65%) of U.S. parents would prefer their child ride on an electric school bus than a diesel-powered one, according to a new survey.
The poll conducted by Highland Electric Fleets also found a similar figure (63%) of parents surveyed believe their child would be happier commuting to school on an electric school bus.
The survey data showed support for electric school buses is largely tied to parents’ concerns about their children’s health.
More than two thirds (68%) of parents surveyed said they believe their child’s overall physical health would improve as a result of riding an electric bus to school.
And 89% of parents ranked air quality and a safe and healthy commute to school among their highest concerns.
Currently only 2.5% of the estimated 500,000 school buses in the U.S. are “committed” electric school buses – including all those funded, ordered or delivered, as well as those currently on the road.
A key factor in the transition to electric school buses is the investment of $5 billion in clean energy electric school buses allocated through the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act in 2021.
The director of the World Resources Institute’s electric school bus initiative, Sue Gander, said parents increasingly recognize that electric school buses are a commitment to their children’s health and well-being in a statement.
Gander added by reducing harmful emissions and improving air quality, these buses represent a critical step toward safer, healthier school commutes and a cleaner environment for future generations.
The founder and chief executive of Highland Electric Fleets, Duncan McIntyre said growing concerns about air quality reflect a “pretty strong advocacy” for cleaning up student transportation in an interview.
McIntyre said there has been a “steady drumbeat of information and awareness” about the need for alternatives to diesel-powered school buses and the benefits of electric vehicles over the last decade.
McIntyre added electric bus fleets can also play a key role in balancing energy supplies, because they can take up excess electricity or offload when needed.
And he said the survey reflects how many drivers and passengers enjoy the quieter and smoother journeys in an electric school bus.
“The regenerative braking can make it a very zen experience for both the driver and the students,” added McIntyre.
“We’re also hearing from parents who have children with disabilities, you know, become some of the loudest and most vocal advocates, because their anxiety levels decrease on an electric school bus.
“They say it’s a huge upgrade in terms of their ability to get to school and hit the ground running productively.”
Brooke Petry, a Pennsylvania field organizer at Moms Clean Air Force, said as a mother of a teenager with asthma, she is grateful to see more people learning about how electric school buses benefit our communities in an email.
“We know that tailpipe pollution can trigger asthma attacks, contribute to cancer, and interfere with our children’s ability to learn,” said Petry.
“And this pollution doesn’t just impact the kids who are riding the buses. It can harm anyone in the community who breathes it. No child should have to breathe dirty air, especially when cleaner air is a possibility within reach.”
And Rachel Chard, deputy director of electric school buses at CALSTART said parents and caregivers are driving conversations about the nationwide transition to zero-emission school buses in an email.
“Together, manufacturers, utilities, and other partners like Highland Electric Fleets are working to deliver cost-effective solutions that make this transition a reality, improving air quality in communities across the country,” added Chard.
