The Real Cost of Free or is it &!@$&^%$^&*!!!
Last week, The Lantern reported on school districts within South Carolina receiving $58M for electric school buses. Many have voiced their concerns on social media regarding the so-called ‘free’ electric buses which will soon hit our county roadways. In this article, we will break down the real costs associated with these modern marvels and how a nice four-letter word such as ‘free’ can quickly turn into an unpleasant %^&$.
“The SC Dept. of Education owns and maintains one of the largest school bus fleets in the entire country”
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Electric Vs. Diesel
One person estimated each new electric bus will cost $385,000. While they were close regarding price, the real cost is closer to $400,000 per bus. How much is a brand-new diesel? According to electrek, “a new diesel school bus, which, according to the A-Z Bus Sales representative, costs around $200,000-$220,000.
Cross Training Mechanics
There is no secret many state employees are not compensated well compared to many who are employed in private sector jobs. Per a ziprecruiter article, “As of Oct 30,2022, the average annual pay for a School Bus Mechanic in South Carolina is $42,145 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $20.26 an hour. This is the equivalent of $810/week or $3,512/month.” Will mechanics be compensated extra for working on these buses or will they be paid the same? The better question should center around additional training and money to cross train employees.
Life Expectancy
Per gregorypoole, “The useful life expectancy of an electric bus is around 12 years. Per thomasbuiltbuses, “Clean-diesel engines, on the other hand are built to last 15-20 years.” Diesel buses have a 50% longer life expectancy than electric.
We Ran Out of Gas! Please send the tanker!
Have you thought about this scenario which is actually very common? School buses run out of gas which typically ends with a tanker coming to assist. What happens when a school bus runs out of charge? The average electric school bus can now run 100 miles or more when fully charged. Blue Bird Electric buses can charge in approximately 8 hours.
Safety
Yes, electric buses can catch fire. A recent article from CT Insider discussed a ‘rare’ electric bus fire and mentioned, “Lithium-ion battery fires are difficult to extinguish due to the thermal chemical process that produces great heat and continually reignites.” How safe are these buses really?
Battery Replacement Costs
Per Vermont.gov, “The traction battery on an electric school bus could cost around $50,000 to replace.” The article continued with, “less energy can be pulled out of the battery when it is cold, meaning the bus range will be up to 30% shorter on the coldest winter days.” When will that replacement (battery) be necessary? “Battery capacity and the bus range will decline over time. After 10 years, range may have declined by 30%. Batteries typically have a 12- to 15-year useful life.”
Who is on the Hook?
“The South Carolina Department of Education owns and maintains one of the largest school bus fleets in the country”, per ed.sc.gov. Final thoughts…get ready to pay and PAY BIG!
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