Western New York Parents Voice Concerns Over Cold Temperatures on Electric Buses
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Parents in Western New York are expressing serious concerns regarding cold rides and mechanical breakdowns after officials mandated that all school bus purchases must be electric by 2027.
According to local outlet WIVB, this new law has sparked frustration among parents in the Lake Shore Central School District. The station reported receiving “several calls” from parents who claim their children are arriving home freezing after school.
The district currently operates 23 electric buses, alongside 24 gasoline buses and four full-size diesel buses. Local parent Scott Ziobro shared his concerns with WIVB, stating, “The heaters on the bus run off the same electricity as the bus itself. They were told that it drains the battery capacity of the bus itself.”
Some students in the Lake Shore Central School District (not pictured) have come home cold after riding buses without working heat. (iStock / iStock)
Parents have also reported instances of buses breaking down, compounding the heating issues. Chris Lampman, another concerned parent, recounted an incident where a bus “broke down en route.” He added, “They deployed a substitute bus, and the bus was more than 30 minutes late. My son stood outside for over 35 minutes waiting for a bus that wasn’t coming.”
“Some of those kids are on there for upwards of a half hour or more while the bus makes its route,” he continued. “There’s no reason that the kids should freeze for all that time.”
Local grandmother Lynn Urbino expressed her horror when her grandson told her that his bus lacked heat. “My grandson came home from school last week when it was 23 degrees,” she said. “He said they didn’t have heat. He came in cold, and I told him, I said, ‘Isn’t the bus warm?’ And he said, ’No, they can’t put the heat on because it drains the battery.’
Parents in western New York have reported heating issues and delays with newly mandated electric school buses. (iStock / iStock)
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Superintendent Phil Johnson acknowledged the complaints in a statement to WIVB, emphasizing that the school district’s transportation procedures mandate heating. “All routes are planned so that the electric bus battery capacity is more than sufficient to support both the route and continuous heating, even in winter weather,” he stated. “The district values its transportation staff and continues to provide training and support to ensure students and staff are safely transported.”
Johnson added, “We appreciate the efforts of our staff as we navigate our transition to electric buses as required by NYS.”
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority asserts that electric school buses can maintain heat in cold weather. According to WIVB, “While battery range can decrease in cold weather, they are still sufficient to complete operations on most local bus routes.”
Concerned parents say electric buses struggle to keep children warm, especially during extended rides in winter. (iStock / iStock)
Video provided by the Austin Independent School District in Texas captures Waymo autonomous vehicles driving past stopped school buses in 2025, raising fresh safety concerns about the technology.
Parents in Western New York are expressing serious concerns regarding cold rides and mechanical breakdowns after officials mandated that all school bus purchases must be electric by 2027.
According to local outlet WIVB, this new law has sparked frustration among parents in the Lake Shore Central School District. The station reported receiving “several calls” from parents who claim their children are arriving home freezing after school.
The district currently operates 23 electric buses, alongside 24 gasoline buses and four full-size diesel buses. Local parent Scott Ziobro shared his concerns with WIVB, stating, “The heaters on the bus run off the same electricity as the bus itself. They were told that it drains the battery capacity of the bus itself.”
Some students in the Lake Shore Central School District (not pictured) have come home cold after riding buses without working heat. (iStock / iStock)
Parents have also reported instances of buses breaking down, compounding the heating issues. Chris Lampman, another concerned parent, recounted an incident where a bus “broke down en route.” He added, “They deployed a substitute bus, and the bus was more than 30 minutes late. My son stood outside for over 35 minutes waiting for a bus that wasn’t coming.”
“Some of those kids are on there for upwards of a half hour or more while the bus makes its route,” he continued. “There’s no reason that the kids should freeze for all that time.”
Local grandmother Lynn Urbino expressed her horror when her grandson told her that his bus lacked heat. “My grandson came home from school last week when it was 23 degrees,” she said. “He said they didn’t have heat. He came in cold, and I told him, I said, ‘Isn’t the bus warm?’ And he said, ’No, they can’t put the heat on because it drains the battery.’
Parents in western New York have reported heating issues and delays with newly mandated electric school buses. (iStock / iStock)
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Superintendent Phil Johnson acknowledged the complaints in a statement to WIVB, emphasizing that the school district’s transportation procedures mandate heating. “All routes are planned so that the electric bus battery capacity is more than sufficient to support both the route and continuous heating, even in winter weather,” he stated. “The district values its transportation staff and continues to provide training and support to ensure students and staff are safely transported.”
Johnson added, “We appreciate the efforts of our staff as we navigate our transition to electric buses as required by NYS.”
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority asserts that electric school buses can maintain heat in cold weather. According to WIVB, “While battery range can decrease in cold weather, they are still sufficient to complete operations on most local bus routes.”
Concerned parents say electric buses struggle to keep children warm, especially during extended rides in winter. (iStock / iStock)
