Bloomington Transit has a complicated relationship with electric buses, but the vehicles might be ideal for schools.
Electric buses have gained popularity over traditional diesel nationwide in recent years, especially after President Joe Biden signed into law legislation that allocated $5 billion to purchasing electric school buses across the country in 2021. The low- to zero-emission buses help reduce pollution and children’s exposure to exhaust emissions.
Both Bloomington Transit and the Monroe County Community School Corp. have received funds in the past to purchase electric buses, and the MCCSC recently received $260,000 to get four more. The MCCSC received its first electric bus in December 2020 and currently has three in its fleet.
But electric buses don’t work for the city in the same way they likely do for the schools, said John Connell, Bloomington Transit’s general manager.
“We knew there would be some range issues and, quite frankly, one of the vehicles we’ve had ongoing mechanical issues that have raised some concerns,” Connell said about the city’s electric buses. “On a school bus application though, it’s completely different. So they may have found their niche there.”
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