ChargEVC-NJ Releases Landmark Study on Electrifying New Jersey’s School Buses
TRENTON – In New Jersey, school buses transport over 800,000 of our children daily. The back of a school bus, filled with harmful health-impacting diesel emissions, is one of the most toxic places a child can spend time. A landmark study released today by ChargEVC-NJ provides key information and specific recommendations on how to accelerate the transition to electric school buses, which will address both public health risks and reduce climate and other environmental impacts. This study is intended to provide the foundation for changes needed to make widespread adoption of electric school buses a reality in New Jersey.
The study, jointly funded by ChargEVC-NJ and Environment New Jersey, finds that the existing fueled bus fleet in New Jersey results in over $79 million dollars in harm per year due to air emissions. Widespread electrification of school buses would reduce that emissions-related harm by nearly 70% under the current electricity supply mix. Other advantages would also be realized, including reduced fueling and operating costs, which combined with benefits from reduced emissions, would generate over $280 million per year in benefits (when using clean electricity).
There is also an opportunity to leverage private investment against public sector incentives to hasten the transition. “Interest in electric school buses is very high, but widespread adoption is limited by a series of structural barriers – mostly related to procurement requirements,” shared Mark Warner, the lead author of the study. “These barriers can be addressed to allow for private capital that can help finance the electrification transition. This study identifies the changes needed to jump-start the New Jersey market and make electric school buses equitably feasible for all districts.”
The study was presented at an educational event hosted by ChargEVC-NJ, Environment New Jersey, NJ Sierra Club, NJ Clean Cities Coalition, Isles, and the Trenton YMCA on electric school buses. The event also provided the opportunity for districts and townships in New Jersey to learn how they can take advantage of state and federal funding from the IRA and IIJA through New Jersey’s Electric School Bus Program and the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program.
“Electric school buses are the future of transportation for students across the state, but too many districts still have a lot of questions on how they can get funding to put clean buses on the road,” said Doug O’Malley, Director of Environment New Jersey and President of ChargEVC-NJ. “We know dirty diesel pollution is sickening our kids’ lungs, and even hurting academic performance in schools. It’s time to transition to clean electric buses, and we need to be able to use a winning combo of federal and state dollars with private investments to speed up the transition.
Media Contact: eve@chargevc.org