Diesel vs. EV FAQs

One gallon of diesel provides 113% of the energy of one gallon of gasoline, making it significantly more energy-dense and efficient for powering buses.

Diesel engines are built for longevity and require less frequent maintenance. They can go up to 45,000 miles before needing an oil change and up to 225,000 miles before needing a filter change.

All diesel engines today have emissions that are well below federal emissions standards. Current engines emit 90% less emissions compared to 2006 models. Additionally, over the lifetime of a bus, diesel engines emit less CO2 than propane or gasoline engines, even though CO2 is not monitored by the EPA.

Yes, all diesel engines currently meet or exceed EPA emissions regulations. In fact, Thomas Built Buses exceeded the EPA greenhouse gas standards for 2021 in Particulate Matter, Hydrocarbon Emissions, and Carbon Dioxide Emissions, with further improvements on the horizon.

Based on EPA-regulated emissions, diesel is comparable to or even cleaner than other fuel types. Diesel has the lowest carbon monoxide emissions of any fuel type and the lowest carbon footprint over the operational life of a vehicle.

No, alternative fuel engines are not always the cleanest. When measured by EPA-regulated emissions, diesel is comparable to or even cleaner than other fuel types. Additionally, diesel provides the safest, least combustible, and most reliable power source for school buses.

Infrastructure requirements depend on your route demands and depot configuration. For higher-powered DC fast chargers, you’ll need 480V 3-phase power and sufficient panel space. Alternatively, 240V single-phase power can support lower-level DC fast chargers, which may eliminate the need for a service upgrade in some cases.

An all-inclusive 4-bus deployment with 24kW chargers costs approximately $125,000–$150,000. Larger 120kW chargers cost $200,000–$225,000. Available subsidies include the DTE E-Fleets Program ($12,000–$70,000 in rebates for DC fast charging stations).

Electric school buses cost $375,000–$420,000. Michigan Clean School Bus Grant offers incentives of up to 90% of your infrastructure cost.

In Michigan, the life cycle of an electric bus is comparable to traditional ICE buses. The battery comes with an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty. Replacing the entire battery pack costs approximately $110,000.

The structural integrity of electric school buses is equivalent to diesel buses. Batteries undergo rigorous testing, including water submersion, extreme temperatures, weight drop tests, and shaker table tests. However, we don’t have specific data on non-paved road testing.

Technicians can access High Voltage training classes: HV1 and HV2. HV3 training is currently available only for dealer personnel, but will soon be released to customers. We also offer preventative maintenance programs.

Electric buses have the same structural integrity as conventional buses. Thomas Built Buses uses Proterra batteries, the industry leader in battery safety, with over 30 million miles of proven performance on transit buses using the same technology.

Range decreases significantly on the coldest days, dropping to approximately 80-100 miles. This is why route assessments are crucial, and conservative route planning is essential. Charging stations are rated to function in temperatures down to -35°F, and with a 60kW charger, a bus can charge from 0-100% in approximately 3-4 hours, even in extreme cold.

Batteries perform best at 65-70°F. While chargers don’t have a specific optimal temperature, moderate weather conditions are preferable for all equipment.

The Michigan Clean School Bus Grant offers incentives of up to 90% of your infrastructure cost—an opportunity that doesn’t come around often. The program is active now, but we cannot predict what will be available in the future.