Hingham Public Schools in Massachusetts hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the construction of the district's first electric school bus project.

According to a release, the switch from three diesel school buses to three electric school buses is projected to save the district $10,000 to $20,000 per year.

In partnership with Highland Electric Fleets, a North American provider of Electrification-as-a-Service (EaaS), the project will introduce three IC Type C electric school buses supplied by local dealer DeVivo and three Zerova 30kW chargers. Each bus is expected to travel roughly 11,000 miles per year once the fleet begins service in February 2026.

"Hingham is proud to take this important step forward in modernizing our school transportation," said Kathryn Roberts, superintendent of Hingham Schools. "This project reflects our commitment to fiscal responsibility and improving the daily experience for our students and drivers."

Public-Private Partnerships Power Hingham's Electric Bus Project

The project is supported through a combined $1.1 million in funding, including $500,000 from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center's Accelerating Clean Transportation (ACT) Program and $600,000 from the third round of the EPA's Clean School Bus Program.

"Projects like this demonstrate how public-private partnerships can make electrification both practical and affordable," said Matt Stanberry, SVP Market Development at Highland. "Together, we're helping Hingham cut costs, improve air quality, and give students a quieter, more comfortable ride to school."

Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant (HMLP) will serve as the local utility partner, and NEC Group will lead electrical construction for the project.