Electric bus adoption has been steadily growing across the US, but it has lagged in rural areas. In 2022, The Nature Conservancy brought in VEIC to understand the viability of using electric school buses in Maine, especially in more rural communities. VEIC worked with Mount Desert Island High School and A Climate to Thrive to evaluate the first electric school bus in the state.

Our team found that:

• The electric bus’s range and performance were satisfactory for normal routes. The bus could also support longer-distance trips.
• Staff and students enjoyed the new bus, and drivers reported that it provided a better working environment.
• The electric bus was three times more efficient than comparable diesel buses, getting the equivalent of 24 MPG as opposed to 9 MPG. This helped cut operational energy expenses by 51% and reduced bus emissions significantly.
• The electric drivetrain had flawless reliability and performance. However, the district did need to replace body parts of the vehicle that were under warranty.

Read the full report at the link below. 

To learn more about school bus electrification in rural areas or cold climates, check out our work supporting Montana’s school districts on behalf of the Department of Environmental Quality.