EV school bus
- Thread starter Finklejag
- Start date
While I agree that an EV school bus does make sense, I am still struggling with the idea that most school buses are built on the same commercial duty chassis as many medium duty trucks. I feel like there could be a safer, more comfortable, and more efficient platform that could carry the same payload. I know that the vehicle referenced in the video was simply retrofitted, but I think a bespoke EV people carrier platform would benefit the industry greatly.
I've always felt that school busses and trash trucks are an excellent use case for hybrid/ev powertrains.
But won't the cost of the battery in 5 years, be as much as a new bus?
Gas and diesel school buses were frequently 10-20 years old.
Gas and diesel school buses were frequently 10-20 years old.
What about heat and AC?
As long as it doesn't catch on fire it's a great idea.
Electric bus fires are not uncommon now. Of the 18 E-bus fires so far, 11 were parked or charging. None of them were able to be extinguished.
Maybe? but I'd have to think that battery swap would be a whole lot easier, bigger chassis with easier access. And given the likelihood of replacement, actually designed for easy replacement.
Bean counters might win on this. Battery replacement would just have to be $10 cheaper than new, and the district voters would ensure that the cheapest solution always wins.
I suspect we are talking about $100,000 batteries here.
But if the bus costs $100,010 then the cheaper solution is to change the battery. Pure economics at play here--those who pay for the bus (but don't drive nor maintain let alone sit in it) will vote with their wallet. [If forced into EV in the first place, that is, I can't see an ICE bus being cheaper than an EV bus.]
Let light the kiddies up, what moron came up with this crap. Oh never mind it is saving the planet and is for the greater good.
https://www.wfsb.com/2022/07/23/2-c...r-taken-hospital-following-electric-bus-fire/
https://www.wfsb.com/2022/07/23/2-c...r-taken-hospital-following-electric-bus-fire/
I drove a school bus(gas) , back when you kept a bus at home and was a student driver. My route was about 25miles
So
50miles a day@ 7mpg=7.14 gallons per day x 5 days=35.7 gallons per week.
36 gallons x 36 weeks of school =1296 gallons of gas x say $4.00 per gallon here= $5180 per year
$5180 x 5 years = $25,920
Much less than $100,000 battery replacement.
Plus the gas bus is good for 10-15 years with no engine replacement.
EV bus will probably need batteries every 5-7 years
I'm sure there are short or longer bus routes, and more expensive fuel in some places, and even year round school.
It might even be worth while to have an ev bus if they go to school year round.
Where are you guys getting your info that you need to replace batteries every 5 years?
BYD’s American-made EV school buses have a 12 year battery warranty.
https://en.byd.com/bus/school-bus/school-bus-d/
Lion school buses have a standard 8 year battery, with an optional 12 year warranty and a mfg. estimated battery life of 15 years.
https://thelionelectric.com/en/products/electric
Bluebird/Cummins has an 8 year warranty.
https://mart.cummins.com/imagelibrary/data/assetfiles/0064156.pdf
BYD’s American-made EV school buses have a 12 year battery warranty.
https://en.byd.com/bus/school-bus/school-bus-d/
Lion school buses have a standard 8 year battery, with an optional 12 year warranty and a mfg. estimated battery life of 15 years.
https://thelionelectric.com/en/products/electric
Bluebird/Cummins has an 8 year warranty.
https://mart.cummins.com/imagelibrary/data/assetfiles/0064156.pdf
So 12 years life. The bus costs $350-$400 vs a 125k -150k for a non ev bus.
This article states $125k-175K repower cost That's at todays cost not what it will cost 8-12 years from now.
So will you re-power an 8 yr old bus and spend 125-175k or buy a new bus for 350k
It's still not cost effective.
12 years' warranty, not 12 years' life. Batteries don't fail the day after warranty, just like engines don't. The failure rate will be a small percentage of total, just like it is with an engine, with most going way beyond the end of warranty and likely on to a second, third or more life.
No those batteries will not likely last super long... Especially in areas of very high temperature or lower temperature aka low overnight temps less than 20°f .
Cadex website has all kinds of fun information about batteries. Well worth reading that information. Kinda interesting.
Cadex website has all kinds of fun information about batteries. Well worth reading that information. Kinda interesting.