Our children and our communities have a right to breathe fresh air. To that end, we call on the Fairfax County School Board to continue its efforts to upgrade FCPS’s aging fleet of toxic diesel buses to zero-emissions electric buses. They emit no exhaust fumes and have lower greenhouse gas emissions than diesel buses, even when the source of electricity is accounted for. They have no engine, muffler, or alternator that requires tune-ups, meaning a lifetime fuel and maintenance savings over diesel buses of up to $170,000. They have a lower center of gravity than diesel buses and so are less likely to roll over. They are safer for our kids and cleaner for our environment. 

We ask that FCPS move forward with the RFI/RFP process for electric buses begun in November 2019 and commit to replacing its entire fleet with electric buses by 2030. Our children shouldn’t have to pay for their education with their own health or the health of the planet. It’s time to upgrade the fleet to electric buses, not only so our children have a safe and clean ride to school but also so they have a future.