In Western New York’s freezing 23°F winds blowing off Lake Erie, schoolchildren shivered outside for buses that never showed up. One student waited more than 35 minutes in the bitter cold. Reports also surfaced of electric buses running routes without heat, forcing kids to endure long, chilly trips through the heavy snow belt.
These problems hit hard at Lake Shore Central School District, about 15 miles southwest of Buffalo. The district switched early to electric buses under a strict state mandate. Parents and students now question if the green push overlooks real-world dangers in extreme winter weather.
State Mandate Forces Quick Switch
New York law forbids school districts from buying any non-electric buses after 2027. By 2035, every district must run a full fleet of zero-emission vehicles. Lake Shore Central jumped ahead, buying 23 electric buses that make up nearly 45% of its 51-bus fleet.
Grants covered most costs, so local taxpayers avoided the bill. Electric buses still cost almost twice as much as diesel ones upfront. Cold weather hurts their batteries, cutting range and power when heat is needed most.
Policy Roots and Early Rollout
Governor Kathy Hochul signed the mandate into law in April 2022 as part of her state budget. The goal: slash emissions and lower childhood asthma from dirty diesel exhaust. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, or NYSERDA, handles grants for cleaner, quieter buses.
Lake Shore landed a $7.9 million grant from the EPA under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. That funded 23 electric buses, 24 gasoline ones, and four diesel models, rolled out by mid-2025. Drivers first praised the smooth, silent rides. But December 2025’s deep freeze exposed big flaws in reliability.
Heat Shortages Spark Parent Fears
Parents say electric buses often skipped the heat in sub-zero temps to save battery life. One grandmother shared her grandson’s story: drivers warned that turning on heat would drain power too fast on long routes. State rules demand warm cabins, raising safety alarms on Lake Erie’s snowy paths.
District leaders push back. They claim the batteries handle full routes plus constant heating by design. This gap between specs and reality fuels distrust. Families worry about kids freezing while batteries juggle heat and distance.
Bus Breakdowns Fuel Public Anger
In December 2025, one electric bus broke down mid-route, stranding students in brutal cold. A replacement took over 30 minutes to arrive, one child spent 35 minutes waiting outside. Anger boiled over as parents demanded answers.
They pointed to batteries splitting power between heat and driving. Parent Scott Ziobro feared drivers would choose range over warmth. Superintendent Phil Johnson defended the setup, saying routes include nonstop heat, staff training, and state rules. Kid reports of cold rides kept the backlash alive.
High Costs and Growing Resistance
Electric buses run nearly double the price of diesel. The Empire Center estimates New York will spend over $9 billion extra statewide by 2035. Charging stations, grid upgrades, and new substations add millions more, hitting budgets hard without endless grants.
State Senator Patrick Gallivan, who backs flexibility bills, cites Lake Shore’s struggles. He argues the 2027 ban ignores harsh Upstate winters. The 2025 budget allows waivers up to 48 months for big hurdles, possibly pushing deadlines to 2029 or 2031.
Looking Ahead to Tough Hurdles
NYSERDA calls Lake Shore a success story despite cold cutting EV range, a known issue. Utility National Grid helped install chargers but warns of substation needs for bigger fleets. The district trains 16 students in EV maintenance, eyeing $15,000 yearly fuel savings per bus and green jobs.
Other superintendents sound alarms. Westhill’s Steve Dunham wants cost balance. Solvay’s Jay Tinklepaugh doubts reliability. Central Square says only 28% of routes work for electrics. With $263 million in EPA funds, New York’s push faces Northeast winter tests. As 2027 looms, leaders balance climate wins against kids’ safety in endless cold.
Sources
Fox Business: “Western New York parents say electric buses are too cold” – December 20, 2025
National Grid US: “Electric Bus Fleet Transition Complete in Angola, N.Y.” – June 30, 2025
CNY Central (WSTM-TV): “This is where CNY schools stand ahead of 2027 electric bus mandate” – May 4, 2025
Empire Center for Public Policy: “Push for electric school buses seems to be losing power” – June 19, 2025
New York State Senate: “NY State Senate Bill 2025-S3328” – January 23, 2025