Electric school buses

More students than ever are headed to class in electric school buses this fall as districts race to take advantage of unprecedented government funding to replace their diesel fleets.

Why it matters: Exhaust from diesel buses is linked to serious health and development conditions for children, especially in low-income communities.

• The growing electric bus movement, fueled by a plethora of state and federal incentives, promises to reduce tailpipe emissions and improve kids' health, too.
• Electric school buses can also act as giant batteries to store surplus energy when out of use. That means cash-strapped districts can earn money from their parked buses by selling power back to the grid during peak demand.

By the numbers: There are 41 electric school buses operating in Arizona school districts, with another 146 on the way, according to the World Resources Institute.