By Olivia Xu • Student Action Committee Chair, student.action@newjersey.sierraclub.org
As the yellow school bus rolls through your neighborhood each morning, it may look the same as it has for decades—but a quiet revolution is coming. To reach the goal of 100% clean energy in New Jersey by 2035, electric school buses (ESBs) are on the rise, offering a cleaner, healthier alternative to their diesel-fueled predecessors. It is time for school districts to start encouraging state and federal authorities to join the commitment to electric school buses now.
The Problem With Diesel
Diesel exhaust created by diesel-powered school buses is highly toxic. Each time a diesel school bus starts its engine, it releases harmful pollutants, including nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), exposure to diesel exhaust causes serious respiratory health issues, especially for children, whose lungs are still developing. Studies have shown that concentrations of PM2.5 and air toxins are 4-12 times as high in school bus compartments as in ambient air.
Additionally, PM2.5 from diesel exhaust can enter the bloodstream, increasing the risk of chronic conditions like heart disease and even cancer. The World Health Organization has classified diesel exhaust as a Group 1 carcinogen, the most toxic of pollutants, placing it in the same category as asbestos and tobacco smoke.
In the United States, more than 20 million children ride school buses each day, yet over 90% of school buses that are operating run on diesel. That means millions of children are exposed to air pollution during their daily commute.
While students with asthma are the most visibly affected, all children who ride diesel buses breathe in these pollutants. If we continue to leave this issue for the future, the repeated exposure will add up and compound the health effects for young Americans.
Electric school buses eliminate this threat at the source. With zero tailpipe emissions, they do not pollute their own passenger compartments, and they make travel healthier for other motorists. Transitioning away from diesel isn’t just an environmentally mindful solution. It’s a public health imperative.
The Costs and the Bigger Picture
A new electric bus does have high initial costs, around $352,000, roughly three times the price of a diesel model. But that number doesn’t necessarily mean electric school buses cost more than fossil fuel–powered buses in the long run.
Electric buses cost far less to maintain and operate over time, although it has become more challenging to obtain funding. New Jersey’s $45 million Electric School Bus Program remains operational. However, ESB funding awards through the EPA’s $5 billion Clean School Bus Program were paused by the Trump administration in January 2025.
My school district, West Windsor-Plainsboro (WWP) can potentially become a leader in the transition to EVs.
Learning from Leaders
Other districts are already paving the way. Princeton Public Schools has begun its transition to electric by investing in two electric school buses, which are expected to begin service in the coming school year. In 2025, Maryland’s Prince George’s County committed to full electrification of its transit fleet by 2040 after student testimony spurred action. In California, the Cajon Valley Union School District has gone a step further, by feeding excess electricity from its ESB fleet back into the grid to save on energy costs.
Of course, while efforts are expected to be bumpy, many school districts were able to overcome them and receive benefits back in no time. In Montana, six school districts had initial concerns with winter reliability, but were still able to consistently cover the required daily route. In fact, they reported $1,575 in annual equivalent fuel savings compared with diesel buses. In California’s Compton district, charging logistics and the potential of power outages caused some fears the program would not work out. In response, the Compton district introduced hands-on training sessions back in January 2025 to aid with charging, schedules, and EV safety. These examples of ESB use prove that it can be done.
What School Districts Can Do
Start small: A district could begin with 1-2 electric buses to assess cost savings, maintenance, and rider feedback. Use this pilot data to build community support for expansion.
Use what you own: If your district already has solar generation and charging capability, find out whether that can support the use of ESBs or what else may be needed for the necessary upgrade.
Funding: Apply for NJ Department of Environmental Protection grants and other money. Supplement charging costs through PSE&G’s incentive program.
Demand more from contractors: Revise future transportation contracts to reward or require electric options. The Rick Bus Company is already taking steps—others should follow.
Center equity and health: Prioritize ESB for routes serving vulnerable communities. Every student deserves a clean, safe ride to school.
Make the effort: There will be obstacles, but there will be ways to maneuver around them.
A Communitywide Opportunity
The move toward electric school buses isn’t just about buses. It’s about what kind of district—and what kind of future—we want to build. Cleaner air, healthier kids, and smarter spending shouldn’t be luxuries.
By taking the first step, your school district can join a growing group of school districts across the country that are choosing progress over pollution. It’s time to put our values