A wave of electric school bus deployments is now hitting districts nationwide as projects funded and procured over the last several years finally move from planning to operation. While questions remain about long-term funding and infrastructure challenges, school districts continue to invest in fleet electrification and other fuel options outside of diesel.

In this alternative fuel roundup, we take a look at the latest news from Zum and electric bus and charging deployments from Amherst-Pelham Regional School District, New Orleans Charter Science & Mathematics High School, Rio Bravo-Greeley Union School District, Greater Johnstown School District, and Erie's Public Schools. All deployments were supported by Highland Electric Fleets.

The Largest Electric School Bus Deployment in the Nation to Date

Zūm recently announced the deployment of an all-electric school bus fleet to the San Francisco Unified School District through the company’s Connected Mobility Experience solution. The deployment will combine electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, routing intelligence, real-time operations, and transparency for families into its single integrated transportation system.

The 104 electric buses will be supported by modern charging infrastructure with built-in bidirectional vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities, making this bidirectional electric school bus fleet the largest in the United States.

The entire fleet, set to deploy in August 2026, will be equipped with bidirectional charging infrastructure and will be able to return approximately 3 gigawatt-hours of clean energy to the local grid annually during peak hours, providing power to 1.2 million homes for up to 3-4 hours. Plans include adding electric buses to complete the 2027-2028 school year, bringing the total to 238 EVs with bidirectional charging in San Francisco.

This project has been made possible through the support of EPA Region 9, the California Energy Commission, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, and PG&E through a combination of grants and incentive programs focused on advancing clean transportation, electrification, and grid resilience infrastructure.

Massachusetts District Kickstarts Electric School Bus Program

The Amherst-Pelham Regional School District in Massachusetts hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the launch of its electric school bus program. The district partnered with Highland Electric Fleets to deploy three Thomas Built Buses Jouley Type C electric school buses, alongside one existing electric bus already owned by the district, as part of a comprehensive electrification program.

The project also includes four new V2G-enabled Tellus 60kW DC fast chargers, in addition to one existing charger, to support daily operations and future scalability. The project was completed in collaboration with NEC Group, LLC, Eversource, and New England Transit.

According to a release from Highland Electric Fleets, the transition to electric school buses “is expected to provide long-term operational benefits while improving the daily experience for students and drivers.” The company reported that students riding electric buses are exposed to 16% less air pollution and, over time, districts also “benefit from operational savings with lower fuel and maintenance costs.”

"This is about more than buses. It is about how we show up for students every day," said Superintendent Dr. E. Xiomara Herman. "As an educational system, we are always looking at how our decisions impact students both inside and outside of the classroom.”

Louisiana District’s Entire School Bus Fleet Goes Electric

New Orleans Charter Science & Mathematics High School (Sci High) in Louisiana recently unveiled its new electric school bus fleet, consisting of nine IC Bus Type C electric school buses with dedicated charging ports.

The electric buses will be operated by A&S Transportation and supported by Highland Electric Fleets through its Electrification-as-a-Service (EaaS) model. The charging infrastructure provided is designed to support overnight charging.

According to a release, Sci High collaborated with a coalition of school districts to secure funding through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean School Bus Program.

"We are excited to be among the first in our community to transition to an electrified fleet of buses,” said Monique G Cola, Ph.D., head of school, New Orleans Charter Science & Math High School. “As a STEM school, we at Sci High believe it is our responsibility to lead the effort in bringing a cleaner, greener option to our community.”

"What a proud moment for Sci High to now have a 100% electric fleet of school buses,” said Wayne Skinner, senior vice president of fleet, maintenance, and procurement, A&S Transportation/Durham School Services. “As their transportation partner, we are happy to have been able to help bring this milestone initiative to fruition for the sake of the safety and well-being of our students and the New Orleans community.”

California District Breaks Ground on Electric School Bus Project

Rio Bravo-Greeley Union School District in California recently announced its early steps on a new electric school bus initiative supported by on-site charging infrastructure. The project is being delivered in partnership with Highland Electric Fleets, which will provide the electric buses, charging infrastructure, and ongoing support as part of a long-term electrification program.

The district plans to deploy eight Blue Bird Corporation electric school buses as part of this initiative, with a dedicated charging depot currently under development and expected to be completed in early 2027. Charging infrastructure is being designed around the district's transportation schedule, ensuring buses are ready for daily routes once the site is complete, while allowing for future expansion as the fleet grows.

"Our priority is always the safety, health, and reliability of the services we provide to our students," said Jennifer Hedge, district superintendent, Rio Bravo-Greeley USD. "This project allows us to thoughtfully modernize our transportation program while maintaining the consistency families depend on.

Pennsylvania Districts Deploy Electric School Bus Fleets

Greater Johnstown School District in Pennsylvania is deploying its first electric school bus fleet in partnership with McIlwain School Bus Lines, Inc., and Highland Electric Fleets. The project includes 10 Thomas Built Buses Jouley Type C electric school buses and 10 DC fast chargers to support daily student transportation across the district.

The buses are designed to travel more than 130 miles on a single charge, supporting consistent route coverage while helping reduce long-term maintenance needs. Charging infrastructure, designed and constructed in partnership with NEC Group, includes 30kW Zerova DC fast chargers configured to align with the district's route schedules and ensure buses are ready for daily service.

"This is an exciting time for our district," said Michael Dadey, acting superintendent. "This grant allows us to think forward — both environmentally and financially.

"School districts and fleet operators need solutions that fit into their operations while delivering real, day-to-day benefits," said Matt Stanberry, SVP of market development at Highland Electric Fleets. "Electric school buses provide more stable operating costs over time, while also helping reduce students' exposure to air pollution.”

Meanwhile, Erie's Public Schools celebrated the launch of its new electric school bus fleet, marking the district's first step toward electrifying student transportation. The project includes 12 IC electric school buses and 12 Tellus 30kW chargers, which will support daily student transportation across the district.

The project was supported through a nearly $4.8 million award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean School Bus Program, which helped fund the deployment of the buses and charging infrastructure. The investment also supported upgrades at the district's transportation facility to accommodate and maintain the new vehicles.

Highland Electric Fleets is supporting both projects by providing the buses, charging infrastructure, and ongoing operational support under a long-term service agreement that aligns costs with traditional fuel options.