How Many Electric Buses Are There In the World? [2024 Update]

The global bus network is a vital part of transportation infrastructure, providing access to employment, leisure, healthcare and education to those who cannot or choose not to drive. According to the International Energy Agency, there were 16.8 million buses across the world in 2021, but how many of these were electric buses? 

Low- and zero-emission vehicles are forecast to replace all diesel-fueled buses by as early as 2040, but what progress has been made towards this target? How successful has the U.S. been at deploying electric buses to date? We will examine all of these questions and more, but first, let’s find out what electric buses are and what benefits they provide.

electric bus suzantur fleet brazil
Marcopolo electric bus part of Suzantur bus fleet (São Paulo, Brazil)

WHAT IS AN ELECTRIC BUS?

Electric buses (also known as e-buses) are similar to electric cars, albeit with a larger battery. There are 3 types of e-bus on the market, the most popular being battery electric buses, which accounted for 90% of the market share in 2021. Instead of an internal combustion engine and a fuel tank, these buses draw energy from an on-board battery to power an electric motor. The benefits of battery electric buses are:

  • No greenhouse gas emissions or pollutants are produced.
  • They offer a smoother and quieter ride, therefore reducing noise pollution.
  • Using the latest rapid charging technology, they can be charged in just 10-20 minutes.
 

The two other types of electric buses are:

  • Hybrid electric buses which combine a diesel internal combustion engine with an electric motor. These models do generate greenhouse gas emissions but emit up to 25% less CO2 than their fully diesel counterparts.
  • Fuel cell electric buses (FCEBs) which convert hydrogen into electricity in a fuel cell, a process that only produces water and heat as byproducts. These buses have a longer driving range than battery electric buses: 280 miles on one tank of hydrogen versus 160 miles on one charge for an electric bus.
 

All 3 types of electric buses have a higher upfront cost (up to 50% more) compared with a diesel bus and require investment in infrastructure for charging or refuelling stations. However, thanks to the savings on fuel and simpler routine maintenance, electric buses can save between $73,000 and $173,000 per unit over a vehicle’s lifetime. As manufacturing volumes of e-buses increase and the cost of batteries declines (the cost of lithium-ion battery packs is forecast to decrease by 52% between 2018-2030), the upfront cost will eventually reduce to the same level as diesel buses.

Have you ever taken a ride on an e-bus? Probably not. Read on to find out why and when this will likely change.

how many electric buses in the world

HOW MANY ELECTRIC BUSES ARE THERE IN THE WORLD?

The total number of buses (of all fuel types) in the world is highly dynamic, as older models are decommissioned and replaced with hybrid and all-electric fleets. According to the latest estimate by the International Energy Agency, in 2021, there were 670,000 e-buses in the world, accounting for approximately 4% of the 16.8 million buses in the total global fleet. Globally, China is leading the e-bus market, with 98% of the market share.

how many electric buses in the world

HOW MANY ELECTRIC BUSES ARE THERE IN THE U.S.?

The U.S. lags behind APAC and Europe in terms of electric bus adoption. According to the latest data from the Federal Transit Administration, in 2021, there were approximately 1,548 zero-emission electric buses in operation, representing a miniscule 0.0016% of the 967,000 total number of buses in circulation in the U.S. and 0.0023% of the global e-bus fleet. The breakdown by state is shown below:

StateTotal no. of electric buses% of total electric buses
California60839.28%
Washington21613.95%
Massachusetts754.84%
Pennsylvania654.20%
Ohio573.68%
Indiana452.91%
New York412.65%
Colorado402.58%
Florida382.45%
All other states36323.45%
Total1,548100.00%

When President Biden came to power in January 2021, tackling climate change was a central part of his mandate, with actions explicitly aimed at electrifying public and school buses. As part of the Low- and No-Emission Transit Vehicle Program, The Department of Transport allocated over $1.1 billion in 2022 to help state and local governments purchase U.S.-built electric transit buses, with an additional $5 billion granted by the Environmental Protection Agency to replace the iconic yellow school buses with zero-emission models.

Upgrading school buses is significant, not least because they account for half of all buses in the U.S., but also because children are more susceptible to the harmful effects of greenhouse gas emissions. Studies have shown that emissions increase the risk of respiratory disease, cancer, and cognitive issues that affect academic performance (source). Fortunately, there are ambitious plans to decarbonize the entire school fleet by 2030 and, as of March 2022, US school districts have committed to procuring 12,275 electric school buses in 38 states.

Biden’s promise to use U.S.-built vehicles is a much-needed boost to the economy and will benefit established American e-bus manufacturers such as Proterra and Gillig, both of which are based in California.

WHICH COUNTRY HAS THE MOST ELECTRIC BUSES?

China is leading the way in the electric bus industry. In 2021, there were approximately 656,600 battery electric buses (98% of the total global fleet) in operation in mainland China and over half of all buses in the country were electrified. With the help of massive government subsidies, entire cities, such as Shenzhen, Tianjin and Zhengzhou, now run bus networks which are exclusively electric. The benefits of this early and widespread adoption are already tangible – air and water pollution levels have fallen significantly. In Beijing, the number of days with heavy pollution decreased from 43 in 2015 to just 10 in 2020, a drop of nearly 80%.

It is no surprise then, that the largest e-bus manufacturers in the world are Chinese. BYD and Yutong, who have both played a significant role in transforming China’s fleet, are capitalizing on their experience and expertise to grow markets in Europe, the Middle East and Latin America.

CONCLUSION

The U.S. is set to be the fastest growing market for e-buses, reflecting a global shift away from gas-burning public transportation systems. The path to zero emissions will require not only government incentives, but also technological innovation, supply chain efficiencies, public awareness and support, investment in infrastructure, a reduction in battery prices and the phasing out of existing diesel buses as they reach the end of their lifespan. 

This may seem complex, but decarbonising the bus network is relatively simple compared with other modes of transportation. With a realistic target of being emission-free by 2040, you won’t have to wait long for that ride on an e-bus.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest
Jason L Arthur

Jason L Arthur

Jason Arthur is a data junkie, writer, veteran amateur racecar driver and motorsport photographer. He is the co-founder of LookupaPlate, a collaborative platform to report bad drivers plying on American roads. He is also building a blockchain-based vehicle data marketplace (in stealth mode) and is an adviser to several startups. Jason has been tracking the automotive industry since the 1990s and has a disturbingly deep obsession with the automotive world, and loves to explore whatever roads he can find. From high-speed racing on the circuit to off-road exploration, Jason has an insatiable appetite for adventure. Jason has written for numerous publications, including Autocar Magazine, Motorsport Magazine, and Road & Track.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *