According to the World Resources Institute, the number of electric school buses in operation or delivered in the United States more than doubled, rising from 598 in 2022 to 1,285 by June 2023. These buses are dedicated to serving school children while promoting cleaner air across 40 states.
Looking ahead, the number of electric school buses that have already been funded or are on order nearly tripled, spanning districts in 49 states.
The emissions-free buses are now present in 914 U.S. school districts and private fleet operators, as indicated by a report from the evidence-based nonprofit published in September 2023, titled: State of Electric School Bus Adoption in the U.S.
California leads all states with over 2,000 committed electric buses, a figure surpassing that of that next leading state, Maryland, by more than five times, with 391 commitments.
New Jersey saw the second-largest increase, adding 107 new buses, while West Virginia follows closely with 42 commitments. Updated data reveals that commitments for electric school buses are now more evenly distributed across all regions of the country.
Here are the Top 5 School Districts by Number of Electric School Buses:
- Montgomery County Public Schools (Maryland)
- Los Angeles Unified School District
- New York City Public Schools
- Twin Rivers Unified School District (California)
- Troy Community Consolidated School District (Illinois)
The report authors, Lydia Freehafer, Leah Lazer, and Brian Zepka, said,
“We estimate approximately 69,000 students across the country are currently served by electric school buses that are delivered or in operation.”
With no emissions from tailpipes during idling or operation, students, staff, and the community will experience significantly lower exposure to harmful air particles linked to asthma and lung disease. Additionally, the environment benefits from decreased greenhouse gas emissions.
The Environmental Protection Agency oversees the federal government’s Clean School Bus Program, a major contributor to these vehicles. This initiative has already allocated 2,339 electric school buses, with additional allocations expected in the future.
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