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Members warn EV school-bus and truck mandates risk heavy costs, road damage without charging plan
Summary
Several lawmakers warned that existing electrification mandates for school buses and trucks could impose large infrastructure and vehicle costs and shorten road lifespan unless charging and grid upgrades are planned; they cited axle-weight, per-mile maintenance and reconstruction cost estimates during debate on A.1012A.
During debate on A.1012A, members raised technical and fiscal concerns about electrifying heavy vehicles without adequate charging and grid planning. Mister Palmisano told the chamber that, according to a highway superintendent study he referenced, an EV school bus could have a 14-ton front axle and a 25-ton rear axle and that increased axle weights would reduce pavement life and sharply raise maintenance and reconstruction costs.
Members gave specific cost estimates in the debate: Palmisano cited a Cornell study and local superintendent testimony placing increased maintenance costs at $20,000–$50,000 per mile and reconstruction cost increases of about $550,000 per mile. He also cited a bond and federal funds figure and a remark that only an estimated 3,000 school buses might be funded by a $500 million bond allocation. Proponents said the working group will examine infrastructure needs, including utilities and municipal concerns, but critics said the group must include trucking, school-district and transmission-system perspectives to produce practical recommendations.
Key quote: Mister Palmisano: “This is the mother of all unfunded mandates.”
