Jefferson Transit is facing a spendy shift to a fleet of electric buses, officials learned during their meeting last week.

Transpo Group engineer Paul Sharman presented a study on potential options and costs to convert the transit agency’s current fleet of diesel buses into battery-powered electric buses.

Although the ambitious proposal would greatly reduce carbon emissions, the cost of transitioning all buses to electric — along with installing charging stations and the like — would cost an additional $5 million compared to current costs for the diesel buses.

Based on the current level of battery technology, the electric buses would not be guaranteed to perform on most bus routes effectively throughout the year.

Although a transition to electric buses looks unlikely in the current circumstances, it could be possible in the future as battery technology improves and costs go down, according to the consultants hired by Jefferson Transit.

Even so, there may still be an opportunity to switch, considering the infrastructure bill which has yet to pass the U.S. House of Representatives.

The bill contains $7.5 billion for zero-emissions buses and ferries, and if the bill were to pass, Jefferson Transit could seek funding to make the switch.

Some advisory group members weren’t convinced.

At their Sept. 1 meeting, members noted problems with battery fires, lack of guaranteed performance on all bus routes, and other risks related to switching to electric buses.

“As an electrical contractor I can see a lot of problems with this,” Transit Advisory Board Member Scott Walker said during the meeting.

“The technology is not worked out enough to be safe,” he said. “It’s a little early in the game to be committing this way.”

Some transit officials remain optimistic for electric buses and their potential.

“Maybe in the future it’s feasible,” said Operations Manager Miranda Nash.