In the push toward a greener future, electric school buses have been touted as a win for the environment, public health, and long-term savings. But in Montgomery County, Maryland, the reality has been anything but smooth. What started as an ambitious plan to electrify one of the largest school bus fleets in North America has devolved into a costly debacle riddled with breakdowns, legal troubles, and operational headaches.
This case raises a pressing question: Is the electric school bus experiment failing not just locally, but globally?
Mounting evidence on high costs, environmental drawbacks from battery production, and emerging cyber threats—particularly from Chinese manufacturers—suggests that EV buses may be more of a liability than a solution.The Montgomery County MeltdownBack in February 2021, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) inked a $168 million deal with Highland Electric Fleets to procure 326 electric school buses over four years. Partnering with manufacturers like Thomas Built Buses, Proterra, and American Bus, the contract included buses, charging infrastructure, and maintenance. It was hailed as the continent’s biggest electric bus rollout, promising reduced emissions for a fleet serving over 160,000 students.
Fast forward to 2025, and the program is in shambles. The buses suffered over 280 mid-route breakdowns in just two years, with average repair times stretching to 13 days—far beyond the contract’s five-day cap. Cold weather slashed range by 10-20% as batteries diverted power to heating, while charging stations were overburdened, sometimes handling three buses each. Proterra’s bankruptcy in late 2023 left vehicles stranded without parts or support, forcing MCPS to shell out $14.75 million for 90 new diesel buses to keep routes running.
The fallout didn’t stop there. MCPS couldn’t recoup $372,000 in penalties for delayed fixes, and the Maryland State Board of Education ruled the contract illegal in 2025, citing bidding violations and fraud convictions against two officials. Highland delivered only 285 buses before the deal was terminated in summer 2024, yet MCPS is still on the hook for lease payments on the existing fleet and infrastructure. Claims of “zero net change” in costs from diesel to electric now ring hollow amid these extra expenses.
This isn’t isolated. Similar woes have plagued other U.S. cities: Philadelphia dealt with cracked chassis and fires, Austin with software glitches, Seattle with charging failures, Duluth with hill-climbing issues, and Miami with buses sitting unused.
Globally, the trend points to reliability gaps that diesel buses rarely face.
The Hidden Costs: Upfront and Ongoing
Proponents argue that electric buses save money long-term through lower fuel and maintenance needs. Electricity can cost 80% less than diesel on an energy-equivalent basis, and maintenance might drop by 50%.
But the upfront price tag tells a different story—an electric school bus averages $156,000 more than a diesel counterpart.
Factor in infrastructure like chargers, and the total cost of ownership balloons. Real-world data shows mixed results. While some districts report savings of $2,000 annually on fuel and $4,400 on maintenance, others face frequent downtime and repair delays. Diesel remains the go-to for its low ownership costs, durability, and efficiency.
As adoption grows—with the U.S. electric school bus fleet expanding under initiatives like the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program—critics warn that these savings evaporate when accounting for battery replacements and grid upgrades.
Globally, trends mirror this: Higher initial investments often aren’t offset by operational gains, especially in colder climates or hilly terrains where range suffers.
Ecological Pitfalls: Beyond the Tailpipe
Electric buses produce no tailpipe emissions, potentially cutting greenhouse gases and improving air quality near schools.
But the environmental story starts upstream. Battery production for EVs relies on mining lithium, cobalt, and other rare earths, processes that release toxic fumes, contaminate water, and degrade soil.
Lithium extraction alone risks high water pollution in 65% of deposits and is notoriously water-intensive.
Disposal adds another layer: Recycling EV batteries is complex and incomplete, leading to biodiversity loss and carbon emissions from mining.
While EVs may have lower lifecycle GHG emissions than gas vehicles in most cases, the upfront carbon footprint from manufacturing is higher—sometimes making a new EV worse for the climate initially than a comparable diesel bus.
In regions with coal-heavy grids, charging EVs can even increase overall pollution.
These issues amplify for buses, which demand larger batteries. The ecological toll from mining and disposal challenges the “green” narrative, turning what seems like progress into a trade-off with hidden harms.
Cyber Threats: The China Factor
Adding to the risks are cybersecurity vulnerabilities, especially in buses from Chinese manufacturers. In Norway, tests by public transport authority Ruter revealed that Yutong electric buses could be remotely shut down via a SIM card linked to Chinese networks.
While no malicious intent was found, the potential for hackers or manufacturers to disable vehicles sparked alarms.
Denmark scrambled to address similar loopholes in hundreds of Yutong buses, and the UK launched probes into whether China could “deactivate” buses on its roads.
This isn’t paranoia—Chinese EVs have raised red flags across Europe and beyond. Australia flagged cybersecurity concerns with Chinese buses, while broader fears include remote access to grids or data transmission.
Electric vehicles, like buses, are software-heavy, making them prone to hacks that could halt operations or compromise safety.
Reliance on Chinese tech exacerbates this, with potential for state-linked interference.
For school buses carrying children, these risks are unacceptable. A remote shutdown during rush hour could turn a routine ride into a hazard.
A Dangerous Investment?
The Montgomery County fiasco, echoed in global failures, paints electric school buses as a risky bet. High costs, unreliable performance, battery-related ecological damage, and cyber vulnerabilities—often tied to Chinese dominance in the market—make them a poor choice for investors and a potential safety threat for users. While some districts tout benefits, the trend suggests diesel’s proven track record isn’t easily replaced. As governments pour billions into EV transitions, taxpayers and parents should demand scrutiny.
I am old enough to remember a politician who “Loved School buses” and really “Loved Electric School buses” that did not get elected. I think that we all need to get involved at the local level to demand access to the real books and finances. With Bill Gates’ admission that the climate crisis is not our biggest threat, it really underscores the view that we should look at finance, investments, and demand returns to stakeholders, while lowering the impact on the environment. We can do all of the above types of approaches if we all ask questions and think for ourselves. Throwing away the mainstream media is the first step.
If you have listened to the Energy News Beat podcast, you have heard Stu Turley say “Energy Security Starts at Home,” and this story exemplifies that mantra. We need to roll out the best technology with the least environmental impact while remaining fiscally sustainable.
Is this the future of transportation, or a FUBAR waiting to spread? The evidence leans toward the latter.
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