Analysis of Electric Bus Deployments at Transit Agencies

Summary Transit agencies across the country are turning to zero-emission electric buses at a much faster rate than school districts. This technical memorandum summarizes transit agency experiences with the purchase, operation, and support of electric buses. These experiences can help identify potential concerns for school districts planning for the use of electric buses. Electric buses have better fuel economy than buses fueled by other sources, but they have reduced range. Transit agencies must be prepared for the reduced range and be proactive in planning which routes the buses will be used on and when charging will be needed. While electricity prices are generally lower than other fuel costs, transit agencies should be mindful of higher demand charges that will be applied when buses are charged during peak periods.