Highland Electric Fleets Expands EaaS Model with 14-Bus School District Deployment
Event summary
- Highland Electric Fleets deployed 14 Thomas Built Jouley electric school buses across four Washington districts via its Electrification-as-a-Service model.
- $8.1 million in federal, state, and local funding supported the project, including $2.8 million from EPA's Clean School Bus Rebate Program.
- The fleet will serve 1,000–1,200 students daily with projected annual savings of $200,000 from reduced fuel and maintenance costs.
- Highland coordinated charging infrastructure (16 Zerova 30 kW chargers) and ongoing fleet support for the cooperative.
The big picture
This deployment demonstrates Highland's ability to bundle hardware, software, and financing for school districts—an increasingly competitive space as legacy bus manufacturers pivot to electric. The $8.1 million funding package highlights how public utilities are becoming critical partners in fleet electrification projects. With LA28 Olympics visibility looming, Highland is positioning itself as both a technology provider and sustainability partner for municipalities.
What we're watching
- Scalability Challenge
- Whether Highland can replicate this model across other rural cooperatives with similar funding constraints.
- Regulatory Tailwinds
- The pace at which federal/state incentives accelerate electric school bus adoption beyond early-adopter districts.
- Operational Metrics
- How actual cost savings and reliability compare to projections as the fleet matures under Highland's management.
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