Cities are still working through early challenges, but they see health and climate benefits ahead. In Chicago, two buses save the city $24,000 a year in fuel costs.
Demand for e-buses is outpacing manufacturers’ ability to supply them, resulting in hundreds of backlogged orders in the United States, said Fred Silver, vice president of CALSTART. Transit agencies tout electric buses not just for their climate benefits but also for their health benefits and long-term cost savings.
Inhaling diesel exhaust can cause respiratory diseases and exacerbate asthma. And refueling and maintenance costs for electric vehicles are typically cheaper than their internal combustion engine counterparts.
In Chicago, the city’s transit agency estimates that its two e-buses save the city nearly $110,000 a year in health care expenses due to less air pollution from diesel buses. The buses are also saving the city more than $24,000 annually in fuel costs and $30,000 annually in maintenance costs.