Technology

FWIW diesel-powered vehicles are much cleaner now than they were in the '80s. Diesel fuel is now sulfur-free, and since 2004 progressively stiffer EPA regulations have reduced the NOx and particulate matter output of diesel engines by orders of magnitude. Unfortunately, though, "cleaner" in this case does not include a reduction in greenhouse gases - in fact, school bus engines of today spit out more greenhouse gases per mile than did buses of the 1980s. This is because the EPA diesel regulations limit permitted emissions based on horsepower-miles, so an engine with twice the horsepower (like today's bus engines compared with older engines) is permitted to emit twice as much junk. And since modern bus engines have much more horsepower, they emit much more greenhouse gases.

Wish every politician gets first dibs in these diesel parties, preferably a nice closed garage with excellent weather sealing for efficiency

Diesel-Electric Hybrid should also be considered as an option depending on the use case of the service area. As a hybrid, the bus wouldn't need to run it's diesel engine at the school pickup point, would have the the benefit of regenerative braking, and overall have better fuel economy, emissions, and longevity of the engine.

This would be beneficial to areas that are too rural and have too long of routes for the batteries to last and areas that have a lot of cold weather might not want to risk freezing their kids because the batteries suddenly have to both drive and heat the whole bus. Cities could be all electric because the routes are much shorter and overall be operating at lower speeds. Also, much more stop-and-go, so the regen braking will really shine.

Will people stop trying to put batteries in everything already? They are heavy, slow to charge, unsustainable, cause fires that can't be extinguished and are affected by extreame weather(especially cold).

Public transit runs on predefined routes, for that you can setup trams(best option) or trolleybuses(no need for rails). I don't care that you think the wires look ugly, they are objectively the better solution.

School busses don't have adult strangers and other issues tied to them. They only go from people's homes to school and back.

The article talked a lot about school buses in rural areas. Mass Transit isn't a thing in most rural areas.

In urban cities, yes that's a feasible idea. Most people in the USA live in places where mass transit isn't feasible.

We are a nation of car drivers who bought into the dream of having a house on a large lot in the suburbs. Mass Transit exists, but in the burb it's generally a parking lot where you take a bus to your job downtown.

I bet with the maintenance and fuel savings, the occasional charter would be cheaper over the lifetime of the bus.

If not, replace your 30 diesel fleet with 25 electric and 5 diesel. Still a big win.

Good catch lol. I'm trying to picture a 2600 passenger bus. That's more than any train I've ever been on. It would have to be the size of an ocean liner.

Now that's what I call "Propane Accessories"!

There were a number of electric busses in the early 1900s. There are plenty of large electric people and material movers. They've been used for a hundred years now for underground mining.