The wheels on the bus are.. environmentally-friendly.
Thirteen school districts in BC, including the Sooke School District (SD62), have purchased a total of 18 electric school buses that will begin operating in communities around the province by the end of the school year.
A new initiative launched by the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation in April 2020, will allow BC school districts to purchase electric buses through funding from both ministries.
Altogether, the 18 electric buses will provide service for about 1,300 K-12 students per day, to and from school.
The Ministry of Education’s Bus Acquisition program provided $13 million for 31 school districts to buy a total of 101 new buses, including the 18 electric buses. The purchase price for each electric school bus is about $350,000, compared to the $150,000 average cost for an equivalent diesel school bus.
The province said a zero-emission electric school bus saves about 17 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually compared to a diesel school bus. The cost of electricity compared to fuel and fewer moving mechanical parts, which means they require fewer repairs and less maintenance.
School districts that buy electric buses will also have access to provincial funding for charging station infrastructure.
“By shifting gears from diesel to electric school buses, these K-12 students are benefiting from our government’s work to create healthier and more sustainable learning environments across B.C.,” said Premier John Horgan, MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca.
“Electric school buses produce zero emissions and also support CleanBC’s target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by the year 2030, helping build a cleaner, healthier future for all of us.”
