Electric Buses Put to Test in Vermont

Eagle Times Staff
MONTPELIER, VT — The Department of Environmental Conservation and VEIC have released a report on Vermont’s Electric School and Transit Bus Pilot Program. As a part of this pilot, three schools and one transit agency replaced eight diesel-powered buses with electric buses, yieldin cost savings and reductions in air pollution, including nitrogen oxides (NOx) and greenhouse gases compared to conventional buses.

“Before launching this project, we did not know how heavy-duty electric vehicles might perform in Vermont — especially with our cold winters and hilly dirt roads,” said Interim DEC Commissioner Neil Kamman. “The report on this pilot program will help us assess if deploying electric buses statewide is cost-effective and feasible long-term and, if so, how best to deploy electric buses to maximize their benefits.”

The pilot decreased emissions of air pollutants, including NOx and particulate matter, compared to diesel buses, helping to lessen impacts of diesel emissions on public health and the environment. Both NOx and particulate matter are linked to exacerbated health conditions such as asthma and other respiratory diseases.

Additionally, the report shows that the electric school buses saved school districts an average of nearly $2,000 in fuel savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 10.1 tons for every 10,000 miles driven, compared to conventional diesel-powered school buses.

Over the first year of operation the electric transit buses averaged nearly $12,000 in fuel savings per bus and reduced an average of 35.5 US tons of greenhouse gas emissions per bus over an average of 15,000 miles when compared to conventional diesel-powered transit buses.

“Currently 40% of Vermont’s greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation, so electrifying our cars, trucks, and buses is a crucial step forward in reducing Vermont’s emissions,” said Jennifer Wallace-Brodeur, VEIC director of consulting. “We hope this report can provide confidence in future electric vehicle investments.”