During its recent annual back-to-school night, Cache Public Schools in Oklahoma unveiled six new electric school buses. The rollout marks a major step in the district’s efforts to modernize transportation for its 2,000 students.

In partnership with Highland Electric Fleets, the district is adding six Thomas Built Type C electric buses paired with six Tellus 30kW DC chargers to its fleet. The initiative is partly supported by an award of approximately $2 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program.

The new fleet is expected to cut fuel and maintenance expenses and reduce overall transportation costs, with initial estimates showing more than 50% savings in total cost of ownership, according to a district release. These new buses also feature air conditioning, a major upgrade for students during warm Oklahoma rides to and from school.

“Bringing these six buses to Cache is a step toward a cleaner, quieter future for our students and our community,” Chad Hance, superintendent of Cache Public Schools, said. “This change not only helps us save money over time, but it also shows how thoughtful planning can lead to real benefits for students. We’re excited to see the buses in action as school begins this week and proud to be a leader in EV innovation for SW Oklahoma schools.”

New Cache Public School District Electric Buses Hit the Road

Once in operation, the new electric buses will serve daily routes across the Cache public school district, averaging about 50 miles per day. The district partnered with Highland Electric Fleets to oversee the project, which included vehicle delivery, charger installation, and ongoing maintenance and support. The district secured its electric vehicles through Midwest Bus Sales.

“By making the shift to electric school buses, Cache is not only creating a cleaner ride for students, but also taking control of long-term transportation costs,” said Joshua Williams, senior midwestern regional manager of Highland Electric Fleets.

During the back-to-school event on Monday, August 11, attendees were invited to ride on one of the new electric buses and join a guided tour of the district’s new charging infrastructure.