Ask An Electric School Bus Driver: Cleaner Air, Better Handling, Reduced Running Costs

A school bus driver in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is sharing what it's actually like to drive electric after 25 years behind the wheel of diesel buses. Charles Choyce, who drives for the Arts Based School, says the switch has made a real difference: no more diesel fumes making kids complain of headaches, easier steering that's lighter on his arms after a full day, and a quieter ride that makes it easier to hear students. He also likes regenerative braking, where the bus slows on its own when he lifts off the accelerator, as an added safety feature.

On the practical side, Choyce says the electric bus is predictable to plan around. He starts each day at full charge, drives roughly 60 miles on a typical school route, and can stretch to about 110 miles on field-trip days. A full charge lasts about 150 miles, and charging takes three to four hours at the school's depot. He also says maintenance has been minimal: after three years, the bus hasn't needed new tires or major repairs, unlike diesel buses he's driven in the past that broke down often and needed frequent part replacements.

None of this is a program homeowners can sign up for, but it offers a real-world look at how electric vehicles perform in daily, high-mileage use. Choyce himself says he'd want an electric vehicle at home too, given rising gas prices, if he had an easy way to install a charger.