2023 Report by Ecology Ottawa.
Executive Summary:
Ontario has a fantastic opportunity to transition its 20,000-strong school bus fleet to electric, bringing significant climate, health and economic benefits for all Ontarians. The noxious soup of diesel emissions comprise both greenhouse gases and particulate matter and within that, significant levels of black carbon. Transitioning our school bus fleet from diesel to electric presents a critical opportunity for significant greenhouse gas emission reductions, which can help mitigate climate change and associated extreme weather events. This will allow us to meet our climate targets by eliminating over 4 million tonnes of emissions across the fleet.
The shocking range of health problems caused by diesel emissions include cancer, breathing problems, heart disease and stroke, neurodegenerative diseases and reduced cognitive development. Children are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of diesel emissions and yet we ask them to get on a diesel bus every day to go to school. With Canada facing a paediatric health crisis, it is beyond time to make the transformative changes we need to improve our children’s health.
With current federal funding in place, total cost of ownership of electric school buses is lower than a diesel school bus. This is in spite of the higher upfront cost, once significant maintenance and fuel cost savings are gained over the lifetime of the bus. Vehicle-to-grid integration offers further economic benefits to bus operators. Beyond this, health care cost savings to the province of $236m over 12 years, with the social cost of carbon contributing another $16.56m in savings.
When considering the wider economic growth potential in Ontario, between manufacturing opportunities, critical mineral availability for batteries as well as recycling prospects and the significant benefit of replacing diesel imports with local electricity spending, the benefits to the province are immense.
The $2.75bn currently available in federal funding provides a fantastic opportunity to be leveraged by the Ontario government by offering a provincial purchase incentive to accelerate the transition to electric. Across Canada we have seen provincial funding encouraging the adoption of electric fleets, most notably in Quebec, BC and PEI. The same trend can be seen in the US, where states with funding to supplement the federal Clean Bus Program are racing ahead with electrification.
These benefits will touch every Ontarian, whether in the form of cleaner air to breathe, reduced pressures on our healthcare system, job creation and economic growth or slowing the warming of our climate. Let’s invest now to offer our kids a cleaner, brighter future.