Electric school buses roll into Los Angeles
by Daniel Fink, MD, Chair, The Quiet Coalition
Photo credit: Kelly
The LAist website reports that the Los Angeles Unified School District is replacing its diesel-powered school buses with cleaner, quieter electric buses. Electric buses are more expensive to buy but cheaper to operate. There is no engine maintenance, no need for oil changes and no need to purchase fuel. Over time, LAUSD expects to save money.
More important is the fact that schoolchildren are not exposed to harmful fumes and particulate matter in diesel exhaust, nor are they exposed to internal combustion engine noise. Particulate matter in diesel exhaust, larger particles called PM 10 and smaller particles called PM 2.5, damage the lungs. The smaller particles can penetrate the blood-brain barrier, getting into children’s developing brains. There are no occupational standards for diesel exhaust exposure and it isn’t clear if EPA standards issued in 2024 still are in force. The State of California has reviewed research showing that particulate matter air pollution is associated with asthma and emergency room visits in children.
Online information suggests that typical school bus routes are about 30 miles long, but urban routes are probably shorter. A typical electric bus has a 300-mile range, so overnight charging should work just fine and range anxiety isn’t a problem. The economic savings over the school buses’ operating life, typically 12 to 15 years, make them cheaper in the long run than diesel-powered buses. And most importantly, they are cleaner and quieter, and that’s better for children on their trips to and from school.
Students also like the new buses because they are air-conditioned and quieter. Electric school buses will benefit children who walk to school, too. They are still exposed to the noise and exhaust from diesel buses at drop-off and pickup. We hope school bus fleet replacement with electric vehicles will become the norm, maybe even a requirement.
A quieter and cleaner world will be better and healthier for children, for their communities and for us all.