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Friday, April 12, 2019

Legislature Passes Electric School Bus Mandate

A bill that passed in the final hours of the state legislature requiring all new Maryland school buses be “zero-emission” vehicles would have cost the Montgomery school system an estimated $84 million, but a last-minute addition of a grant program will offset the expected price tag.

House Bill 1125, sponsored by District 15 delegate David Fraser-Hidalgo, mandates all new school buses in Maryland purchased after October be “zero-emission vehicles,” defined as a bus that does not produce any tailpipe or evaporative emissions, as most traditional school buses do.

The county school system’s Chief Operating Officer Andrew Zuckerman said he was surprised the bill passed and said it would have been a significant financial burden without funding from the state.

“We’re not really sure about the availability of the buses at this scale, or the legitimate, pragmatic feasibility,” Zuckerman said during Tuesday’s school board meeting. “This is surprising. I’m surprised this was approved without further study on the part of the state.”

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10 comments:

Anonymous said...

and where does that grant come from?

taxes.

Anonymous said...

"... it would have been a significant financial burden without funding from the state...."

And just where does the state get money? I guess they think it washes up on the beach at Ocean City.

I can't believe a law with such a terrible burden was passed and nobody knows anything about it. This will bankrupt all the counties on the Eastern Shore, if not the entire state.

Anonymous said...

When I lived in that county I noticed school buses passing through my neighborhood and on the road were ALWAYS empty for except 2 or 3 kids. What a waste of taxpayers money. Parents drove their kids to school. I couldn't get out of my neighborhood because of cars with kids being dropped off.

Anonymous said...

Very stupid plan. Hope there are no low areas that flood since these electric motors are on the axles next to the hub / tire. They quit and short when driven in water. Where does this leave the children and for how long before they are rescued? This tells you the stupidity of legislators. No research and input / guarantees from manufactures. More Democrat stupidity.

Anonymous said...

Now they can charge up their batteries from electric plants burning coal. Dumb Idea

Anonymous said...

Do the drivers have to go to school to learn how to plug in for recharge.
What a disgrace .

Anonymous said...

Nothing to worry about. If they can’ t find any electric buses, they’ll transfer the money into the General Fund just like they do with the Highway Trust Fund.

Anonymous said...

1 electric bus will use as much power as 10 residential houses during the recharge period (Likely overnight). So much for "off peak" power when all these buses hook up to charge.

http://joannenova.com.au/2019/04/electric-cars-are-already-causing-some-grid-failures-in-australia/

Anonymous said...

Zero emissions...Right. Except from the natural gas or coal-fired plants which likely generate the electricity they'll be using. Someone please explain to these idiots there's no such thing as a free lunch.

Anonymous said...

What to do when all kids are educated by K-12 or private on-line schooling. Electric buses a waste of money I say!