Yesterday, Dixie County Public Schools (DCPS) announced the deployment of 23 new electric school buses to its fleet. The additions make it one of the largest electric school bus fleets in Florida. 

The new buses were funded by a $9 million rebate from the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean School Bus Program. The new electric buses will replace a portion of its existing fleet of 37 diesel buses as it phases out diesel on daily routes.

DCPS partnered with Thomas Built Buses, Matthews Buses, and Highland Electric Fleets to implement this project. Dixie County is one of 12 Florida counties that received federal funding for clean school buses since 2022. 

The district's 23 new electric buses will collectively travel 270,000 miles annually and will avoid 228 metric tons of CO₂ emissions while generating cost savings.

"Today's ribbon-cutting is more than just a celebration of our 23 new electric school buses—it's a moment of pride for Dixie County," said Mike Thomas, superintendent Dixie County Public Schools. "It's an honor to share this milestone with the students, community members, and leaders who made this project possible."

A ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the launch of the electric school buses was held Dec. 10 at the district's transportation facility. The event included remarks from key stakeholders and district officials, followed by a brief electric bus ride to showcase the new transportation method for students.