Electrifying US School Bus Fleets Equitably to Reduce Air Pollution Exposure in Underserved Communities

The report investigates the relationship between school bus fleet age, fuel type, and the socioeconomic characteristics of the communities they serve in the United States. It finds that the oldest and most polluting buses are concentrated in districts with higher proportions of low-income households and residents of color. However, as of December 2022, electric school bus commitments have largely targeted districts with lower incomes, more residents of color, and poorer air quality, driven by federal and state programs prioritizing disadvantaged areas.

• The most polluting school buses in the United States, characterized by older age and a lack of modern emissions reduction technology, are disproportionately located in school districts with higher concentrations of residents of color and low-income households.
• Rural school districts are more likely to operate older buses, although their overall fleet sizes are smaller.
• As of December 2022, the adoption of electric school buses has trended toward districts with the worst air quality, more residents of color, and lower incomes, aided by state and federal programs that prioritize disadvantaged districts.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Electrifying US School Bus Fleets Equitably to Reduce Air Pollution Exposure in Underserved Communities. https://www.wri.org/research/electrifying-us-school-bus-fleets-equitably-reduce-air-pollution-exposure-underserved

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Electrifying US School Bus Fleets Equitably to Reduce Air Pollution Exposure in Underserved Communities. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/electrifying-us-school-bus-fleets-equitably-reduce-air-pollution-exposure-underserved.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Electrifying US School Bus Fleets Equitably to Reduce Air Pollution Exposure in Underserved Communities |url=https://www.wri.org/research/electrifying-us-school-bus-fleets-equitably-reduce-air-pollution-exposure-underserved |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendelectrifying, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Electrifying US School Bus Fleets Equitably to Reduce Air Pollution Exposure in Underserved Communities}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/electrifying-us-school-bus-fleets-equitably-reduce-air-pollution-exposure-underserved}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }