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by ams6110 4399 days ago
Our local school system looked into hybrid buses a few years ago. Amazingly they did a rather unbiased analysis and found that there was not a financial advantage to be realized and they stayed with conventional gasoline and diesel buses.

Natural gas is likely the cleaner but still practical compromise. Remember school buses are also used for things such as transporting athletic teams, bands, orchestras, etc. to events that are farther away than the range of an electric vehicle.
2 comments
jessaustin 4399 days ago
...events that are farther away than the range of an electric vehicle.

This would be a reason to have four or five conventional-fuel vehicles. 90% of most fleets could still be shorter-range.

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ensignavenger 4399 days ago
That would be an interesting analysis to see- any chance you could get a copy and post it?

"...school buses are also used for things such as transporting athletic teams, bands, orchestras, etc..."

I don't think many schools need their entire fleet to be able to transport students long distances. They could convert some, or maybe even most, of the buses to electric, depending on the circumstances.

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