Ever get on a bus or train, only to wonder exactly when the last time this vehicle was serviced for regular maintenance? If so, you’re not alone. It is no secret that America’s bridges, roads, and public transportation systems are falling into a state of disrepair. Indeed, over 150,000 bridges alone are “structurally deficient” which basically means they aren’t up to snuff. Neither are the nation’s trains or railroads.
The Federal Transit Administration estimates that it would take over $77 billion to bring all the nation’s buses and trains into a state of “good repair”, and it would cost another $14 billion every year to maintain them. This is why we need more electric vehicles.
The study was based on 36 bus and rail operators in both rural and urban areas (which strikes me as odd, as a lot of “rural” areas around me don’t have buses OR trains). The study estimates that 40% of the buses in the U.S. are in a state of poor or marginal repair. I’m not saying these buses are going to go careening off the road and bursting into flames… but they might break down and leave you stranded far from where you need to be.
Still, everything needs to be maintained, so there will always be costs associated with that. However, as a person familiar with cars, I know just how complicated these machines are, and there are literally thousands of things that can go wrong with just the engine and transmission of current automobiles. Electric vehicles have much lower maintenance costs though, because the motors are much simpler. There are no oil changes required either, making regular checkups a breeze. A large-scale conversion of the nation’s buses from gas to electric or some sort of trolley system could probably save a few billion bucks off the annual repair costs.
Source: Green Car Congress | Image: Chris DeMorro
Chris DeMorro is a car enthusiast, blogger, and all-around crazy man who is as passionate about hybrids as he is about Hemis. You can follow his constant misadventures at Three Months In A Mustang.
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Love the piece, but one tiny issue with the conclusion that “This is why we need more electric vehicles.”
Much of the money for maintaining infrastructure comes from gas taxes. Less gas consumption will just lower the funds for doing what you hope to do.
Love the piece, but one tiny issue with the conclusion that “This is why we need more electric vehicles.”
Much of the money for maintaining infrastructure comes from gas taxes. Less gas consumption will just lower the funds for doing what you hope to do.