Here is the
right framing of this article. It's a pity the title needs to troll tesla, Musk or EV haters/lovers to make it's (newsworthy) argument. The point of comparison is useful though: 33 cars = 1 bus.
I am actually going to email local polticians today. My back-of-the-envelope is that in in my city, converting the bus fleet is equal to converting 1/3 of the private vehicle fleet. They are spending a lot here on plans that don't have a tenth of that potential.
Ireland (where I live) has missed its emmissions target. We're already paying penalties and the current "plan" to get better fast is a huge (>40%) subsidy for €50k executive perk cars, on top of standard EV incentives. Using this article's bus/EV fuel savings ratio (33/1), you have about 33€20k = €660,000 per bus* in your "better than this terrible plan" budget.
From the comments, it seems that e-buses aren't at the "just buy some and done" point. But (like you imply), buses have all sorts of advantages over cars that make this a great target for meaningful short term improvement.
As you say, plans can be implemented by cities. Local politicians talking about private EVs is mostly cheap talk. They can't do much about it. Buses are a decision they make. Also, fuel cost savings are achieved rapidly as buses work full time. You're not paying now for fuel savings in 12 years. Charging infrastructure can be centralized. As specialized utlilitarian vehicles, buses can make all sorts of compromises. Some routes don't need fast buses. It seems downright rational.