Market Trends of School Bus Industry
Growing Sales of Electric School Buses to Witness Growth in Coming Years
Electromobility is gaining pace across the world due to the government incentives provided to the adoption of electromobility and sales of electric vehicles, rising oil prices, increasing pollution levels, growing environmental consciousness, lower operating costs than ICE mobility, and announcements by various major markets like Europe, China, and India to ban new sales of IC engine vehicles by 2035.
More than 95% of school buses worldwide run on fossil fuels, especially diesel. Numerous studies show that inhaling diesel exhaust causes respiratory diseases, seen widely in children, who are the main commuters. Replacing all the school buses only in the United States with electric buses would avoid an average of 5.3 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions yearly.
Electric buses emit zero emissions, and their annual operating cost is almost half that of diesel buses. In Shenzhen, China, it is expected that the incentives for electric transit buses will also be extended to school buses, thus increasing their adoption. A few states in the United States, such as California and New York, and Quebec in Canada, are also testing and adopting electric buses, which is expected to drive the growth of the market. The state of California in the United States is at the forefront of adopting electric school buses. For instance, in November 2022, the state of California in the United States announced the investment of another USD 1.8 billion in the electrification of school buses. The state has spent USD 1.2 billion on the electrification of school buses so far.
Furthermore, the electrification of school buses in Europe is also rising due to the announcement of the European Commission to ban the sales of IC engine vehicles in Europe from 2035.
In addition, leading players in the school bus market are actively catering to this demand through research, mergers and acquisitions, strategic collaborations, etc, to gain a competitive edge in the electric bus segment. For instance,
In October 2022, BYD signed a deal with Los Olivos Elementary School District to create the first US school district with a 100% zero-emissions bus fleet.
In May 2022, Greenpower Motor Co., based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, unveiled a new Type A battery electric school bus named Nano BEAST (Battery Electric Automotive School Transportation) for the US market.
Thus electric segment of school buses is anticipated to drive the growth of the school bus market.
North America to Play a Key Role in the Development of the School Bus Market
With a well-established and extensive school transportation system, North America boasts many schools and educational institutions that heavily rely on school buses for student transportation. Additionally, the region's population density and geographic factors contribute significantly to the demand for school buses, especially in suburban and rural areas where schools are not easily accessible by foot.
The economic prosperity of North America also plays a pivotal role, allowing substantial investments in education and related infrastructure, including the consistent update and expansion of school bus fleets. The United States and Canada enforce stringent safety regulations for school buses, fostering a market for vehicles with advanced safety features. For instance,
In the United States, the Biden administration has rolled out the 'Clean School Bus' (CSB) program as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This initiative aims to replace current school buses running on fossil fuels with newer low- or zero-emission models. The key focus is on promoting buses that are environmentally friendly and contribute to the health of school children.
Furthermore, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also plays a crucial role by implementing the Green House Gases (GHG) phase 3 program, which enforces stricter emission standards. Additionally, North America also provides incentives for propane, also known as liquefied natural gas (LNG), and it is included in the CSB program as a low-emission option.
Moreover, government funding and subsidies further fuel the market, providing financial support for educational institutions to invest in modern and efficient buses. Additionally, North America's early adoption of technological advancements, such as integrating advanced safety features and exploring alternative fuels, increases the overall growth potential of the school bus market. For instance,
In October 2022, Thomas Built Buses, a subsidiary of Daimler Truck North America, announced the delivery of the 200th Proterra Powered Saf -T-Liner C2 Jouley battery-electric school bus to Monroe County Public Schools in Indiana, United States.
The market for school buses in Asia-Pacific and Europe is also expected to grow rapidly due to the growing demand for safe and secure transportation for school-going children, rising disposable incomes of parents in markets like China and India who now can afford school bus services for their children, rising sales of electric school buses in Europe, increasing enrolment of children in schools, and the presence of large bus manufacturers in these markets.
