Georgia school bus driver Craig Burch shares a day in his life driving an electric bus, highlighting quieter rides, smoother operations, and students’ positive reactions.
Serena Golden | November 14, 2024 | Clean Energy Generation, Clean Transportation, Georgia
A typical day for Craig Burch begins at 3 a.m. He takes a shower, drives to the bus yard, and performs a series of pre-trip safety checks all before his passengers have even had breakfast.
Burch has been driving school buses in Savannah-Chatham County, Georgia for three years. When asked about a day in the life of a bus driver, he laughed.
“Whew, Lord. A typical day,” Burch said. “Be out here in the yard about five, make sure the bus ready. Go through the whole walk-through, pre-trip check with the bus. Then drive to your first stop and from that point on, all you gotta do is fight the traffic, deal with the kids back and forth, and watch the road.”
The average person might be intimidated by steering a huge vehicle full of bantering children through traffic day after day, but Burch makes it sound easy. This is a routine he’s perfected over his three years as a school bus driver, but things look and sound a little different since he got an electric school bus earlier this year. The new electric bus glides quietly along the early morning streets, a striking contrast to the loud rumble of a diesel-powered engine.
“When we pull up, we either got to blow the horn or hit the air brakes, but other than that, driving through the neighborhoods is real quiet. You’re not waking up the neighbors,” Burch said.
Operationally, Burch has noticed that electric buses are easier to maintain, with fewer moving parts than diesel engines, and there is no need to refuel throughout the day. He finds the pre- and post-trip checks are nearly identical but without concerns about fuel levels or emissions. Plus, the electric bus drives almost effortlessly.
“Oh, it’s smooth,” Burch said, likening the experience to driving a “big electric golf cart.” The learning curve is minor: his main adjustments are monitoring battery levels on longer routes and adjusting to the feel of a steady, almost silent engine. “It’s second nature now,” he explained.
Thanks to the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program, Savannah-Chatham is one of several Georgia school districts with electric buses on the road. Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the Clean School Bus Program aims to replace existing school buses with zero-emission buses. Savannah-Chatham was awarded $9.8 million to purchase 25 electric buses and build a charging station next to the school bus yard.
Lanetta Mills, Executive Director of Transportation at the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS), said taking advantage of the Clean School Bus Program was a win for students, staff, and the community.
“Not only is it a win for healthier lungs but electric buses are expected to cost less than diesel vehicles over time due to lower maintenance and operating expenses,” Mills said, noting that electric buses “produce cleaner air for students, bus drivers, school staff working near bus loading areas, and people living in communities that buses drive through each day.”
Like any transition, electrifying their fleet has come with challenges. The buses arrived before the charging station was constructed, and the cost of the build ultimately surpassed the EPA funding. Luckily, Savannah-Chatham’s fleet director had prior experience in implementing electric vehicles. Now, Mills said other school districts turn to SCCPSS for guidance on applying for the Clean School Bus Program, selecting vendors, and streamlining the electrification process.
Students notice more than just quieter rides and cleaner air. The electric bus is more comfortable, offering extra legroom and seat capacity. Burch said students are excited by the change from the diesel buses they’ve known.
“Oh, they love it,” Burch said. “If I have to put this in the shop or something, then they upset because they got to ride on the gas bus. It’s comfortable for them.”
Burch’s new electric school bus does more than provide students with a new ride — it introduces students to a cleaner, healthier future. By electrifying its fleet, Savannah-Chatham Schools has exemplified what it means to be part of the Clean Energy Generation, a movement of people of all ages and backgrounds tackling the climate crisis. With initiatives like the Clean School Bus Program, the goal is clear: to make electric school buses and cleaner air the new standard for generations to come.
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There’s good news for districts interested in following Savannah-Chatham’s lead: a new round of funding is now available through the Clean School Bus Rebate Program. School districts have until January 9, 2025, to apply for funding. Burch and his students are already experiencing the benefits — with continued investment, electric buses like his could become the new norm for schools everywhere.
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