Sylvie Willis
School buses are an essential mode of transportation for millions of students across the United States, with over 20 million children relying on them daily. The dominant fuel type for these buses is diesel, with over 90% of school buses running on diesel fuel. While diesel engines offer advantages such as fuel safety, energy efficiency, and durability, they have also come under scrutiny due to their environmental and health impacts. Diesel exhaust contains harmful pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, which can contribute to respiratory and heart disease, and have negative effects on children's health, particularly those with asthma. As a result, there is a growing push towards transitioning to alternative fuel types, such as propane, gasoline, and electric school buses, which offer reduced emissions, lower maintenance costs, and improved air quality.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of school buses that use diesel | 90% |
| Alternative fuels used in school buses | Gasoline, propane, natural gas |
| Advantages of diesel | Fuel safety, energy efficiency, reliability, durability, established fueling and maintenance network, range and operational flexibility, secondary markets, low acquisition and operating costs |
| Disadvantages of diesel | Negative impact on human health, especially children's health, moods, and lung development |
| Advantages of gasoline | Compatibility with existing infrastructure, flexibility in use, faster warming up in cold weather |
| Disadvantages of gasoline | Requires specialized refueling infrastructure |
| Advantages of propane | Quieter operation, reduced refueling time, lower flammability, built-in safety features, domestic production, consistent power, reduced emissions, fewer harmful pollutants, non-toxic, fuel cost savings, lower maintenance costs |
| Electric school buses | Zero tailpipe emissions, significantly lower fuel and maintenance costs, successfully operating in various climates and communities |
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What You'll Learn
- Diesel is the dominant technology, with 90% of school buses running on diesel fuel
- Diesel exhaust negatively impacts children's health, moods, and lung development
- Electric school buses have zero tailpipe emissions and lower fuel and maintenance costs
- Diesel buses have higher maintenance and fuel costs than electric buses
- Diesel engines are less suitable for cold weather conditions
Diesel is the dominant technology, with 90% of school buses running on diesel fuel
Diesel is the dominant technology, with around 90% of school buses in the US running on diesel fuel. This is because diesel offers fuel safety, energy efficiency, reliability, durability, a well-established fuelling and maintenance network, range and operational flexibility, secondary markets, and low acquisition and operating costs.
However, diesel exhaust from school buses has been found to negatively impact human health, especially for children, whose lungs are still developing. Diesel exhaust includes elevated levels of air pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, which contribute to respiratory and heart disease. Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of diesel exhaust as they have a faster breathing rate than adults. Research has shown that exposure to diesel exhaust can cause daily irritation for children with asthma, increasing the frequency and severity of asthma attacks.
Due to the negative health impacts of diesel emissions, there is a growing movement to transition school bus fleets to electric or alternative fuel sources. Electric school buses have zero tailpipe emissions and are responsible for significantly lower levels of greenhouse gases than diesel-burning school buses. They also have lower fuel and maintenance costs, providing an opportunity for school districts to save money and reinvest in classrooms.
Alternative fuel sources, such as propane and gasoline, have also been proposed as cleaner and more cost-effective options compared to diesel. Propane buses emit fewer greenhouse gases and pollutants than diesel buses, and they have lower maintenance costs due to their cleaner-burning fuel. Gasoline engines, meanwhile, may be a more versatile option for districts with a mix of urban and suburban routes and can be a more straightforward transition for districts that already have diesel maintenance expertise.
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Diesel exhaust negatively impacts children's health, moods, and lung development
Diesel fuel is the dominant technology powering school buses in most school districts. More than 90% of school buses in the United States run on diesel fuel. While diesel engines have their advantages, diesel exhaust has been shown to have a negative impact on human health, especially for children.
Children have a faster breathing rate than adults, and their lungs are still developing and not yet fully formed. Diesel exhaust contains multiple air pollutants, including sulfur dioxide and fine particulate matter (PM). These fine pollutants, smaller than 1 micron in diameter, can penetrate deep into the lungs, leading to decreased lung function and an increased risk of lung cancer and asthma. The high toxicity of diesel exhaust is further evidenced by its classification as a harmful carcinogen by institutions such as the Internal Agency for Research on Cancer and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The negative health effects of diesel exhaust on children have been documented in various studies. The National Resources Defense Council's (NRDC) report, titled "No Breathing in the Aisles," quantified the amount of diesel exhaust children are exposed to during their daily commutes to and from school and how this exposure threatens their health. A 2015 University of Michigan study also linked diesel emissions to adverse health outcomes in schoolchildren, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds who are more reliant on bus transportation.
Additionally, diesel exhaust has been associated with negative impacts on children's moods and lung development. While transitioning to cleaner modes of transportation, such as electric school buses, is crucial, it is also important to address the immediate risks posed by existing diesel school buses. EPA's Clean School Bus program aims to help communities reduce emissions from older diesel school buses, and funding is available for projects that reduce emissions from existing diesel engines. Upgrading to newer diesel bus models with advanced engine technology can also help achieve near-zero emission levels.
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Electric school buses have zero tailpipe emissions and lower fuel and maintenance costs
In the United States, more than 20 million students ride the bus to school each day, with over 90% of school buses running on diesel fuel. Diesel is the dominant technology in most school districts, and while it offers advantages such as fuel safety, energy efficiency, and durability, it also has drawbacks. Diesel exhaust from school buses has been linked to negative impacts on human health, particularly for children with higher breathing rates and developing lungs.
To address these concerns, there has been a growing interest in transitioning to electric school buses. Electric school buses offer zero tailpipe emissions, significantly reducing students' exposure to harmful diesel exhaust pollution. This not only improves air quality but also has health benefits for children, especially those with respiratory conditions such as asthma.
While the upfront costs of electric school buses can be higher, their fuel and maintenance expenses are significantly lower over the lifetime of the bus. The lower fuel and maintenance costs of electric school buses present a compelling financial case for school districts. The savings can be redirected to other areas, such as reinvestment in classrooms, further enhancing the educational experience for students.
In addition to the financial benefits, transitioning to electric school buses can also contribute to a more sustainable future. Electric school buses produce lower levels of greenhouse gases compared to diesel-burning school buses, helping to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate climate change. This transition aligns with new federal policies that provide funding assistance for school districts to adopt electric buses and establish the necessary charging infrastructure.
However, it is important to acknowledge that the transition to electric school buses comes with certain considerations. These include the availability of charging infrastructure, driving range in different weather conditions, and the secondary market resale value of electric buses. Nevertheless, with funding opportunities and operational cost savings, school districts are recognizing the benefits of electric school buses, not just for their students' health but also for their financial well-being.
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Diesel buses have higher maintenance and fuel costs than electric buses
Diesel is the technology of choice for school buses, powering nearly 90% of the fleet. This is due to a combination of factors, including fuel safety, energy efficiency, reliability, durability, and low acquisition and operating costs. However, diesel buses have higher maintenance and fuel costs than electric buses.
The price of diesel fuel is highly volatile, leading to higher operating costs in the long term. In comparison, it is about 2.5 times cheaper to power vehicles with electricity rather than diesel. The U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory has found that the fuel economy of electric buses is five times higher than that of diesel buses operated on equivalent routes.
Electric buses have a simpler power system, consisting mainly of motors, batteries, and electric control systems. They lack the complex mechanical components found in diesel engines, such as pistons and crankshafts, which require regular maintenance and are prone to breakdowns. Electric buses have significantly fewer parts, resulting in lower maintenance costs.
The complex emission control systems required in diesel buses, such as diesel particulate filters (DPF) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems, further increase the initial cost and maintenance expenses. These systems are necessary to meet environmental regulations, but they can also lead to higher repair costs due to potential breakdowns.
While electric buses have higher upfront costs, their long-term fuel and maintenance savings can offset the initial investment. Electric buses provide significant cost savings due to their lower energy consumption and efficient interior components. Over its lifetime, an electric bus can save up to $400,000 in fuel expenses and $125,000 in maintenance costs compared to a diesel bus.
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Diesel engines are less suitable for cold weather conditions
In the United States, diesel is the technology of choice for school buses, powering nearly 90% of the fleet. Diesel engines are favoured for their fuel safety, energy efficiency, reliability, durability, and low acquisition and operating costs.
However, diesel engines do have their drawbacks, particularly when it comes to cold weather conditions. One of the main issues with diesel engines in cold weather is their difficulty in starting up. Diesel engines use compression ignition, which relies on the heat generated by the compression of air in the cylinders. In freezing temperatures, generating enough heat to ignite the diesel fuel becomes more challenging. This can lead to prolonged idling, increasing fuel consumption and emissions.
Additionally, diesel fuel can solidify in cold weather, a phenomenon known as gelling. When temperatures drop below freezing, the paraffin wax in diesel crystallizes, leading to clogs in fuel lines and filters. This can cause issues with starting the engine and may require the use of special winter blends or additives to counteract the problem.
In contrast, gasoline engines typically start more easily in cold weather as they use spark plugs, which ignite the air-fuel mixture more effectively at lower temperatures. Gasoline engines also generally reach optimal operating temperatures faster, providing cabin heat sooner and reducing engine wear.
While diesel engines may struggle in cold weather conditions, they still have their advantages. Diesel engines are built for endurance and, even with the challenges of winter, they tend to last longer than gasoline engines when properly maintained. They also have excellent fuel efficiency, even in cold weather, and perform well in icy and snowy conditions due to their higher torque at low RPMs.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, more than 90% of school buses in the US run on diesel fuel.
Diesel fuel is the dominant technology in most school districts. Diesel is the technology of choice as it offers fuel safety, energy efficiency, reliability, durability, a wide range, and operational flexibility.
Yes, alternatives to diesel fuel for school buses include propane, gasoline, natural gas, and low-carbon biodiesel fuels. Electric school buses are also becoming increasingly popular as they have zero tailpipe emissions and significantly lower fuel and maintenance costs.
