He added that operating costs are already showing
promise. “We’re spending about half as much on energy for
electric buses compared to gasoline,” Berlin noted. Ultimately, his message to other fleet operators is both pragmatic and forward-looking. “It works,” he said. “There are challenges, but they’re being solved. And it’s hard to imagine that this transition isn’t going to happen.” Susan Mudd, senior policy advocate at the Envi-
ronmental Law & Policy Center in Chicago, said the transition to cleaner school buses is fundamentally about protecting children’s health, especially in commu- nities most affected by air pollution. “School buses are one of the most direct ways children
are exposed to air pollution,” Mudd said. “They’re riding these buses every day, often breathing in diesel exhaust both inside and outside the vehicle.” She emphasized that while cleaner diesel technologies
have reduced emissions, they do not eliminate them. “We’ve made progress, but diesel still produces harmful pollutants,” she said. “From a public health per-
spective, the goal should be zero emissions, especially when we’re talking about children and their developing lungs.” Mudd pointed to electric school buses as a way to
remove tailpipe emissions entirely, improving air quality not only for riders but also for drivers, school staff and surrounding neighborhoods. “When you move to electric buses, you’re eliminating those tailpipe emissions altogether,” she said. “That has immediate benefits for the children on the bus, and for the communities where those buses operate.” She also stressed the importance of equity in the tran-
sition. “Too often, the oldest and highest-polluting buses are operating in communities that are already overbur- dened by air pollution,” Mudd said. “We need to make sure those communities are prioritized as we make this transition.” While acknowledging that implementation can be
complex, she said the long-term health benefits should remain the priority. “This is about reducing asthma, improving air qual- ity and giving kids a healthier start,” Mudd said. “The
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