That was a discussion topic on the Discord's page of a school bus mod that I believe fits better here in the Forums. The question is: Why modern american School buses look like this: Which is very similar to the 70's design: Why school buses have that old design? Are they safer because they look like this? Or their design didn't change because of some degree of laziness? Why can't they have up to date designs like this?
Most likely because designing and building a bus like the 3rd example is VERY expensive. Nobody's spending all of that. Hell, most of the busses we have are from the early 2000s still for that reason. Probably a if it isn't broken, no need to fix it and waste more money situation. Plus, for a new design like that, the factories would have to be fully reworked probably. There's nothing in it for the bus companies really, more of a loss for them.
I wouldn't say it is that expensive to make, simply because that model is sold here in Brazil since 2014, and it is the entry level design for citybus aplications, specially in small cities. It is sold in both front and rear engine layouts with high floors, and a rear engine low-entry design. It is a Dirt cheap design, but it still is updated from time to time (about every 10 years). Looking at its main competitor, you can see that this is no new tecnology, or is so expensive that the US companies couldn't make something like that. --- Post updated --- Also, if we get the Marcopolo Torino, the bus I used to Illustrate the first post, it evolved quite a Bit from the 1980s till today. 1980s: 1990s 2000s 2010s (current generation) And, as I said, this is a entry level bus. It always was, and it couldn't be cheaper. If Brazilian companies can build them, buy them, and operate them with a profit, transporting millions of people each day, I can't believe that American companies need to rely on such old technology to stay afloat
I'm not saying the companies over here couldn't, they easily can. They just won't until they have to. It's more expensive than keeping the current design. I mean, you know how America works, no change unless it's forced or required (or makes a bunch of money). And also, most of our busses seen aren't even the new models, most of them are from the 90's to 00's. So even if the bus companies did start making new busses (like the modern ones you showed), they likely wouldn't be used everywhere until the current busses die. I think the schools themselves have to buy the busses (I think, not 100%) so of course they aren't getting new models (at least until the old ones become fully outdated, die, or electricity eventually takes over). I'm not defending this, just saying what I reckon are the reasons. Found this mix of busses, the new ones are the one with slanted windshields (more modern looking). Notice how the old 90's-00's busses are much higher in numbers than the more modern ones 10's to now. If they won't even buy the current modern busses (as often as the older ones), an even newer design would most likely have the same fate. Until there's no alternative, and the now modern busses have to be bought of course. But by then, they likely will be outdated themselves. Just how it works over here it seems.
This is the most modern looking school bus right now, as you can also see, the flat nose one also as LED day lights and headlights.
Where I am, the newest one I've seen is from the 2010s. I mean nationwide they aren't common (and won't become the usual for years).
Only reason I'd say a little sooner (next decade) is the new electric push (unless old busses get retrofitted with EV motors and batteries, in which case I fully agree)
