State Senator Tom O’Mara is renewing his call for New York to delay its electric school bus mandate, warning that the plan is financially and logistically unworkable under its current timeline.
In a recent guest column, O’Mara criticized the state’s all-Democrat leadership for pushing forward with a law that requires all new school bus purchases to be electric starting in 2027. He argues the mandate could become the costliest in state history, with conversion expenses estimated between $8 billion and $15.25 billion more than simply replacing diesel buses.
O’Mara also pointed to infrastructure challenges, noting that many school districts would need expensive electrical upgrades and additional workforce training to accommodate electric fleets. Additionally, he raised concerns about the state’s electric grid, which he says is already struggling and may not support the added demand from thousands of electric school buses.
Another key issue is performance in cold weather. O’Mara cited studies showing electric vehicles lose up to 40% of their range in extreme cold, with some Vermont pilot programs reporting losses of up to 80%. Charging time and battery efficiency in winter conditions remain significant concerns.
Beyond affordability and reliability, O’Mara warned of increased road maintenance costs due to the heavier weight of electric buses. A typical diesel bus weighs about 10 tons per axle, while electric buses weigh significantly more—up to 25 tons on the rear axle. He noted estimates suggesting that some towns could see their road maintenance costs rise tenfold due to the additional strain on infrastructure.
To address these concerns, O’Mara and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano have introduced legislation (S1980/A5168) to delay the mandate until 2045 or until all state agencies first convert their own fleets. The bill would also authorize education officials to override the mandate for districts where zero-emission buses are not feasible, require cost-benefit analyses for school districts, and direct safety regulators to develop fire suppression protocols for lithium and hydrogen-based vehicle fires.
O’Mara argues that, as it stands, the plan is neither affordable nor realistic. He continues to call for reassessment before the mandate creates what he believes will be an overwhelming financial burden on school districts and taxpayers.
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