Q&A
STN: Two years ago, you told us electric school bus
purchase cost was the biggest challenge to adoption. Cost has only increased but so have the purchase costs of diesel and gasoline, and those respective fuel prices have risen, too. What is Summit’s perspective on the current business case for electric school buses, especial- ly with the Clean School Bus Program returning? Other fuels such as propane and renewable diesel? Wertner: Two years ago, upfront purchase cost was the primary challenge to electric school bus adoption, and that remains a significant consideration today. While diesel and gasoline bus costs and fuel prices have also increased, electric buses still require a higher initial investment and supporting charging infrastructure. That said, the business case has evolved. Electric school buses are viewed through a broader lens that includes total cost of ownership, route profile, infra- structure readiness, maintenance, energy costs, and available funding programs. The return of the EPA Clean School Bus Program and other state programs are important because programs like this help bridge the upfront cost gap and expand deploy-
ment opportunities where the operational fit is strong. We also believe the industry will continue to uti-
lize multiple technologies. Electric buses are a strong solution in the right operating environment, while fuels such as propane and renewable diesel can also play an important role depending on fleet needs, infrastructure availability and regional conditions. Ultimately, our focus is deploying the right technology
for the right application while maintaining safe, reliable and cost-effective transportation for students.
STN: Labor costs also continue to rise, and Summit,
like its competitors, remain pressured by driver union strikes or the threat of them. How does Summit navigate this ongoing environment amid rising capital and op- erational costs that can conflict with decreasing school district budgets? Wertner: The rising operational costs coupled with
decreasing school district budgets have definitely been a difficult challenge that we’ve been trying to navigate with our customers during contract negotiations. We’ve had to really take a step back to look at our transportation
24 School Transportation News • JULY 2026
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