Seattle’s population has been growing over the past decade. Luckily, the city has managed to tackle the accompanying traffic problem. This has seen a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent. The solution was found in an unexpected place – buses. While they are overlooked as a means to decarbonize transportation, they are quite effective.

Research supports electric vehicles as a means of decarbonization. However, vehicle electrification alone is not sufficient to meet the right goals. A 2020 analysis warns that if the U.S. were to replace all gas cars with EVs, it would put a strain on the country’s electricity capacity. This will affect other essential energy needs.

California became the first state to introduce an electric bus fleet. It cost the municipality approximately $81 million. However, a subsequent upgrade resulted in lower costs. I also led to a reduction of about 59 million pounds of CO2 emissions. This is a huge decline in the emissions from the previously high levels in the past.

In conclusion, we see that while EVs play a role in decarbonization, there is a need for a comprehensive approach including a call for reduced driving, improved mass transit, and promotion of investments in electric buses.