Healthy kids. Happier drivers.
Lower costs.
When you upgrade to electric, everyone wins.
Safe, reliable, and quiet, electric buses are just better.
Healthier for kids
Diesel buses have been linked to pediatric asthma. Everyone breathes easier without tailpipes.
A more equitable learning environment
Pediatric asthma and other respiratory ailments that disproportionately affect historically underserved communities can increase student absenteeism. Clean, reliable electric buses help ensure all students can get to school.
A more equitable learning environment
Quieter buses mean quieter kids. And faster heating and cooling and smoother handling provide a better work environment for drivers.
Savings for school budgets
With 97% fewer moving parts, electric buses are cheaper to maintain than alternatives. Also, you’ll never buy another gallon of volatile commodity fuel.
More reliable, resilient electric grids
Electric school buses are basically large mobile batteries. They can provide power to the grid during times of high demand or act as community backup generators during extreme weather events.
Common Questions
Today, the sticker price of an electric school bus is around 3x that of a diesel school bus. Highland uses private capital to remove that upfront cost.
Batteries last 20-40 years on average. Highland covers any costs associated with battery replacement during the contract period (10-15 years).
It depends on the model. A typical Type C electric school bus has a range of 100-120 miles on a full charge. Electric buses also have a regenerative braking mode that enables the buses to partially recharge while being driven, which helps extend range.
Depending on equipment specified (i.e., Level 2 or DC) and project scope, upfront charging equipment costs can range from a few thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands of dollars (or more). In addition, many districts find that construction and installation costs can have significant hidden costs that blow budgets and deadlines out of the water. Highland’s subscriptions include all equipment and installation costs, mitigating client risk—if there are delays and cost overruns, they’re Highland’s responsibility, not yours.
Electric school buses have 97% fewer moving parts than a diesel bus. Fewer moving parts mean electric buses require less maintenance – typical maintenance savings with an electric bus are 30-50%.
Electric AC and heat cool and heat the bus faster than systems on a diesel bus. Using the AC and heat impacts range, but not enough to prevent the buses from completing their routes. If required, some manufacturers provide fossil fuel heaters that don’t affect range.
No. Electric school buses are structurally identical to their traditional diesel counterparts and meet all the same safety requirements.
Yes. Electric school buses are structurally identical to their diesel counterparts except for the battery/engine. All ESBs have multiple redundancies which allow for electricity to be shut off, automatically rendering the batteries harmless. Government data show gasoline vehicles are up to 100x more prone to fires than EVs.
Typical battery and electric drive motor warranties are 8 years, with options to purchase extended warranties. Highland covers batteries and drive motors for the life of the contract (10-15 years): If there is a failure, Highland is responsible for covering all replacement costs.
There are many grants available on the national and regional levels for fleet electrification (e.g. VW, DERA, RGGI, HVIP, NYSERDA, AFIG, etc.). All require quite a bit of research and effort to successfully secure. Highland has experience successfully navigating these programs with our customers and can support your efforts to secure grant funding for your electric fleet.
Deploying a successful electric fleet is a complex and time-consuming process. For a fixed annual fee, Highland’s team of experts manages everything on your behalf, including project planning and permitting, grant applications, engineering, construction, utility interconnection & permitting, electricity, training, smart charging, and more.
Highland provides workforce training to drivers and mechanics, ensuring they’re up to speed on the latest electric school bus technology. We train your drivers to take advantage of regenerative braking, which allows the bus to partially recharge itself when slowing down. Mechanics learn a new skill set in servicing and maintaining EVSBs in a safe and consistent manner.
The short answer? Give us a call! We are happy to speak with school and district leaders about electrification, or to appear at school board meetings to help educate them about upgrading to electric.
A growing number of grassroots organizations support school bus electrification, and can be helpful in building political support for your project. These groups include: Mothers Out Front, Mom’s Clean Air Force, the Sierra Club, 350 community action groups, League of Conservation Voters, and Clean Cities Coalition, among many others. Getting teachers, parents, and students to advocate for electrification at school board meetings can also be highly effective.