Electric buses are changing the public transportation industry around the world. People understand the extraordinary benefits and they’re getting on board.
Are you?
The benefits are profound and include positive impacts for you, your organization, the community and the environment. In fact, Schetky Bus & Van Sales has been contributing to this worldwide trend.
Schetky sold electric buses to several Northwestern school districts, including Highline, Orcas Island, Lopez Island, Elma and Mary M. Knight. Schetky wants to make an impact on the world and on the children riding these buses — in part by improving the air they’re inhaling when they are around buses.
In response to the hefty sale, our company was featured on various public transport news platforms nationwide, including Bus Ride Mag, School Transportation News, School Bus Fleet and Park News.
If you’re considering purchasing an electric bus for sale, keep reading to learn all the critical benefits. If you find the information below helpful, please share!
FUEL SAVINGS
In comparison to standard diesel buses, electric buses save a significant amount in fuel costs. Since EVs run purely on electricity, there is no need to fuel up. Instead, the bus just needs to be charged. Over the lifetime of an electric bus, the American Public Power Association estimates that an owner can save $400,000 in fuel costs.
In fact, according to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, the cost to power an electric vehicle is 2.5 times cheaper than it is to fill up a diesel vehicle. In addition, prices of electricity at public fill-up stations are relatively stable and likely to decrease in the future as EVs become increasingly popular.
Additionally, the cost of the battery technology that powers the majority of electric buses is rapidly declining. In 2018, the lithium-ion battery technology price had dropped 80% since 2010 and is only projected to get cheaper.
MAINTENANCE COSTS
Since electric vehicles have fewer moving parts than standard vehicles, maintenance costs are significantly lower. Advanced Energy estimates that in comparison to a diesel bus, an electric bus saves around $185,000 in maintenance costs over its lifetime.
An electric bus eliminates almost all engine maintenance. The vehicles have no fluids, no filters and no exhaust system — which are three of the most common parts needing repairs in standard diesel buses.
According to the American Public Power Association, the braking systems of electric buses last longer due to a lack of fluids. Even repairs as simple as oil changes are not needed for an electric bus.
These lowered costs have been a welcomed part of the transition for many buying electric buses for sale, among other EVs.
The recent sales we have made to school districts are only the beginning for Schetky. Due to Schetky’s partnership with both Thomas Built Bus and Proterra, the company is ready to lead EV sales and distribution.
Devin Denney, director of transportation for Highline Public Schools, was new to EVs when Schetky first got in contact with the district.
“The idea of pairing the Proterra drivetrain and charging system with a Thomas conventional bus just made sense to us,” Denney said.
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY
A major pull for electric vehicles, especially in more recent years, is the gravitation towards green initiatives.
According to Wired, emissions from transportation make up almost a quarter of total emissions worldwide. While buses in Bogotá, Columbia, make up only 5% of the total number of vehicles in the city, they produce 25% of the city’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and 40% of the nitrogen oxide emissions.
Electric buses help minimize total emissions from transportation. Since EVs are powered purely by electricity, these vehicles release little to no emissions. In turn, they create cleaner air for the community and better overall health for the people in it. In addition, by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, electric buses help reduce climate change worldwide.
For school districts, the addition of EVs to their fleets provides the opportunity to apply for environmental-related government grants and other incentives.
For example, California has a program titled “California’s Hybrid and Zero-emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project,” or HVIP, that grants incentives as high as $235,000 for electric school buses sold within the state. If you are looking at an electric bus for sale in the Golden State, please look into HVIP.
Additionally, the Federal Transit Administration agreed to the Low or No Emission Program which offers funding to local and state governments to help purchase electric or hybrid public transport buses. In 2019, this project alone awarded almost $85 million in grants.
The fumes coming from the exhaust of a diesel bus can also create negative health effects for students who regularly ride the bus to school.
According to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, students who ride the bus are more likely than those who don’t to develop respiratory-related diseases. It can also worsen the effects of already present respiratory diseases including asthma. Also, exposure to diesel soot from standard buses and ground-level ozone from diesel exhaust has been found to increase the risk of cancer.
MINIMAL NOISE POLLUTION
It’s no secret that buses are hard to miss on the street. Other than their large, dominating presence, they tend to be loud enough for a whole neighborhood to hear. However, because electric buses don’t have diesel engines, they are much quieter.
Not only does this benefit those living near a regular bus stop, but it also provides a more relaxing ride for passengers. No exhaust and minimal vibration create a more enjoyable environment and allow for better conversation between riders. That electric bus for sale you’re considering would be appreciated by those you’re transporting!
UPDATED TECHNOLOGY
State-of-the-art technology is usually a given for electric buses. Advanced Energy claims that the size and capacity of electric bus batteries provide an opportunity for vehicle-to-grid applications.
This technology would allow the bus batteries to store energy and then in turn act as a spare battery, meaning the vehicle could both give and receive power when hooked up to a charging station. In the future, this could work as a method to manage energy demand during peak charging periods and support renewable energy.
At Schetky, the electric bus platforms we offer are equipped with new software that gives us the opportunity to monitor your system remotely. This means we can see if battery packs are performing at the ideal level, and we can also upgrade the bus’s system to provide preventative maintenance through the online system.
Even after you purchase your electric bus, we are able to continue providing service to your vehicle and monitor the activity on a regular basis.
Our electric bus and van conversions also abide by the strict guidelines and requirements of the chassis manufacturers. We can provide an electric conversion that is curated to your specific operation. Our electric conversion operators include:
- Electric Bus
- Electric Shuttle Bus
- Electric School Bus
- Electric Work Trucks
- Electric Delivery Trucks
- Electric Cargo Trucks
- Electric Refuse Trucks
- Electric Mobility Vans
- Electric Passenger Vans
- And more!
EARLY-ADOPTING
That electric bus for sale you’ve been considering could lead you to become an early adopter — a leader for others to follow.
According to the American Public Power Association, buses account for almost half of the total public transportation usage across the nation. In 2019, 528 fully electric buses took the streets in America — which was a 29% increase since 2018.
California, New York City and Seattle all took pledges to start working towards transitioning all public transit buses to electric. This means by the year 2045, 33% of buses in America are projected to be electric. This year, President Joe Biden called to add electric vehicles to the government’s fleet.
Undoubtedly, electric vehicles are the future of public transportation, and with Schetky, you can become part of the early adopters. Currently, there are about 425,000 electric buses taking the streets worldwide. However, 99% of those are located in China, meaning less than 1% of buses in the United States are electric. As an early adopter, you have the opportunity to be part of the future.
SCHETKY AND THE FUTURE OF EVS
David Schetky, co-owner of Schetky Bus & Van Sales, is looking forward to the future of the company and EV sales.
“When it comes to electric vehicles, Schetky has been at the forefront of this movement for both school and commercial buses. We’ve got some exciting announcements on the horizon, utilizing our best-in-class electric and alternative fuel partnerships. We’re capable of selling new EV buses and retrofitting fleets to upgrade them with electric drivetrains. Schetky is positioned to offer school districts a turnkey approach to electrifying their fleets. No one else is doing this.”
Without a doubt, EVs and buses carry plenty of benefits when compared to standard vehicles, but what makes them truly worth the investment?
From costs to environmental-friendliness, electric buses work to exceed all expectations. These are a few reasons why you should move on the electric bus for sale you’ve been eyeing.
At Schetky, our goal is to continue to provide a large selection of electric vehicles, including the latest models and technologies. The advantages of switching to an electric vehicle are undeniable. Not only can the switch to electric save you a considerable amount of money, but the electric buses also allow communities to have cleaner air to breathe.
We are proud to lead the way with green initiatives. We are working to make it easier for school districts across the nation to choose electric buses. Today, electric vehicles are becoming an essential part of meeting climate change goals both internationally and across the nation. 
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION
As America’s longest-established, family-owned bus dealer, we are here to provide you with an extensive inventory of electric vehicles as well as standard buses and vans. Make sure to keep an eye out for Schetky electric school buses for sale and electric vans available across the country! And please reach out to us with any questions. We would love to enter into a dialogue with you. Help us make this world cleaner and greener for everyone.