This article is part of a series highlighting the experiences of the Arts Based School with their electric bus. Read the first article here.
The Arts Based School brought their electric school bus to the Juneteenth Celebration in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, so that the community could get a first-hand look at the technology.
One of the school’s two bus drivers, Charles Choyce, was kind enough to spend his Saturday showing off the bus and answering questions from kids and their adults. During one of the quieter parts of the day, we had a chance to talk about his experience.
He’s been a school bus driver for about 25 years and just this past school year switched to the Arts Based School and started driving an electric bus. As an experienced driver, he’s noticed differences between the two powertrains that are both subtle and profound.
Human Health Benefits That Are Easy to Identify
When asked if he prefers driving diesel buses or electric buses, his response was a deeply personal reflection for himself and the kids he drives. “I like driving the electric bus more than the diesel bus. There are several advantages to driving the electric bus. One is, when you drive the diesel bus, you get portions of the fumes of the diesel,” Choyce said.
He’s noticed fewer reported headaches from the kids after switching to driving electric. “The kids complain about the fumes when they’re riding the diesel buses.”
The electric bus is also easier on his body after a full day of driving. He explains, “The thing about buses is that the steering, when you’re steering all day long, your arms over here hurt. But this one? I mean, I could, I could hold this steering. I could go like this and, and it turns. I could go like, (demonstrates small shift on wheel) and it turns. I love that.”
Easier Maneuverability
“It’s very smooth. The turning gears are much wider, if that makes sense. For example, if I’m taking a turn, it’s better on a turn than the old buses. Maybe because of the wheel cage, the front wheels are much wider than the other buses, because I found it much easier to turn.” Turns out, Choyce is spot on with this observation. According to IC, electric and diesel versions of the IC CE Series share the same foundational chassis. However, because the electric models have heavier powertrain components mounted lower in the frame, it improves the overall center of gravity, stabilizing the bus and allowing easier turns.
The Electric Bus Creates a Safer Environment
The experience of being on a diesel school bus, the sounds of the engine roaring and the kids yelling over that sound to hear one another, can be unnerving to neurodivergent students and distracting to drivers. The relative peace and quiet on an electric bus is another reason Choyce prefers to drive it.
“It is so loud on the diesel bus. They have to over-talk the engine. It helps because you can hear the kids more. This is the best experience I ever had.”
He also points out how the deceleration with regenerative braking adds another safety element to his daily drive. “Like, if I take my foot off the brake, the bus automatically slows down. I like that feature a lot.”
At this point in our conversation, we get sidetracked by a kid and his dad who want to see the bus. Mr. Choyce greets them with a warm smile. “You guys wanna come on the bus?” After they’ve had a chance to check it out and chat with Mr. Choyce, we start to talk about what his day looks like.
The Electric Bus Provides More Precise Planning and Lower Fueling Costs
“With the electric buses, you could plan your routes, you know exactly what it is. For example, I drive about 60 kids in the morning. So my day starts at about 100% battery charge. By midday, I know exactly how much power I have.
So I know exactly which route I could take, whether I have enough charge for field trips and stuff like that. That’s why I like the bus.”
His typical route is about 60 miles per day: 30 miles in the morning and 30 miles in the afternoon.
“So then I plug it in, for maybe about three, sometimes three or four hours; it depends on the day.”
The bus can drive for about 150 miles on a full charge, and Mr. Choyce points out that the bus is also great for handling field trips.
“Sometimes, there’s another activity, so I could do at least another 40 (miles), depending where we go. I go to Greensboro; that’s another 40 miles that I put on the bus. So, on a field day trip, it’s about 110 (miles) per day. I’m able to do that with this bus. You know?”
The bus is charged at the depot at the school, and it’s much cheaper to fuel and operate than a traditional diesel bus.
The Electric Bus Reduces Maintenance Needs and Associated Costs
Unprompted, our conversation switched to the maintenance of the bus and how there is far less downtime associated with it. “Breakdowns happen very easily with the diesel bus, because there’s a lot of turning gears and stuff like that. But with the electric bus, it’s very, very light wear and tear. We’ve had this bus for about three years. We haven’t had a change of tires. We haven’t had any major repairs, because I remember driving over the years for the (other) school system. Just about every week, there’s a bus that breaks down. The diesel bus will have to replace the alternator. We had to replace the pulleys. There is none of that in this. So, I’m fortunate to drive the electric bus this way.”
The district schedules a routine annual check before the new school year starts. Last year, the only thing done to the bus was adding fluid to the cooling system.
Going Fully Electric?
It didn’t take long for Mr. Choyce to be won over by the electric bus. The safety features, the increased uptime on the road, and the decreased strain on his body are all valid reasons why. Districts that are considering the pros and cons should take stock in what drivers like Mr. Choyce, who engages with the electric buses daily, has to say.
When asked if the experience would encourage him to drive electric for his personal vehicle, it led to us talking about some of the barriers that those without a garage face. If he could easily install a home charger, he said, “Yeah, I would love to have that. I would. Because, I mean, gas is so expensive. It’s so expensive.”
This article is part of a series highlighting the experiences of the Arts Based School with their electric bus. Read the first article here.
Take Action
Please indicate your support for electric school buses by adding your name to our petition.
