Highland Electric Fleets, a provider of school bus fleet electrification-as-a-service in North America, is partnering with student transportation provider National Express LLC and its subsidiary Durham Schools Services, to provide 52 electric school buses for districts across the country.

Funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), totaling over $20 million, will support the electrification and sustainability of Durham's fleet serving Compton Unified School District of California, Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy of Rhode Island, and Rumney School District of New Hampshire.

"We are thrilled about entering the next phase of our transition towards a fully electric school bus fleet," said Nick Voisard, senior director of electric vehicles at National Express. "The growing body of evidence, including research from the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory, highlights the positive impact of zero-emissions school buses on children's health, communities, and the environment fuels our enthusiasm to deploy these buses on the roads. Witnessing the encouraging benefits of zero-emissions school buses is inspiring, and we are equally heartened by the increasing wealth of supporting data and studies as we advance on our journey toward becoming 100% zero-emissions by 2035."

Beth Dowd, director of operations at Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy, said: "By embracing this more sustainable initiative, we support the well-being of BVP scholars, our communities, and the environment, and prioritize a healthier and more vibrant future for all." 

National Express and Highland also are partnering with bus manufacturers IC Bus and Thomas Built Buses for the deployment.

"It's an incredibly exciting opportunity for Highland to partner closely with National Express, who is a strong and reputable force in student transportation innovation," said Duncan McIntyre, founder and CEO at Highland. "With this partnership, we can work together to bring safe, reliable, and cleaner transportation to school districts, students, and communities across the country."