E
lectric school buses (ESBs) are becoming an increasingly more common sight on U.S. roads. According to data published by the World Re- sources Institute in June, U.S. school districts
and fleet operators have committed to 12,275 electric school buses in 38 states, a number that has increased by 10,000 since January. The increase is attributed to a recent announcement
by a partnership of bus dealer Midwest Transit Equip- ment and commercial EV maker SEA Electric to convert 10,000 Type A and Type C diesel school buses with battery-electric power systems over the next five years. Virginia, which has the country’s second largest state- wide fleet of ESBs at 64 buses, as a result of a grant from utility Dominion Energy, is expected to more than dou- ble that number by the end of the current school year. The increase necessitates training those driving ESBs
to do so safely and efficiently. One training factor focus- es on torque. School bus maintenance and technology consultant Bob Pudlewski—School Transportation News’ technical editor—noted a major advantage for all electric vehicles is that “flooring the pedal of an electric vehicle applies maximum voltage, giving 100 percent torque, flat torque range from zero speed.” He explained this is why many electric passenger cars
take off when intersection lights turn green. Rapid accel- eration, however, consumes battery reserves quicker and impacts range. Such behind-the-wheel behavior regard- less of the fuel or power is a faux pas for any respectable school bus driver, but it remains a training issue for school districts and bus companies to seriously consider. “Flooring the throttle of a diesel does not give you in-
stant torque. It builds up as RPMs rise,” Pudlewski added. “The advent of turbochargers and ECUs in diesel and
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