Highland Electric Fleets Delivers 25-Bus Electrification-as-a-Service Project for Topeka Schools

New updates have been reported about Highland Electric Fleets.

Highland Electric Fleets has deployed a 25-bus electric school fleet for Topeka Public Schools USD 501 in Kansas, underscoring the company’s expansion as a turnkey Electrification-as-a-Service (EaaS) provider for K–12 districts. The project, executed in partnership with North American Central School Bus (NACSB) and its local operator Kansas Central School Bus, places Highland at the center of a fully integrated, depot-based electrification solution that incorporates vehicles, charging, and ongoing operations support. The fleet consists of Thomas Built Jouley buses with an estimated 150‑mile range, enabling coverage of a broad mix of Topeka’s daily school routes while maintaining service reliability. The initiative was partially financed through a more than $7.6 million award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program, reflecting continued federal tailwinds for Highland’s core market and helping the district manage upfront capital costs.

Highland led the infrastructure and integration work, installing 25 Kempower 30kW chargers tailored to the district’s daily operating profile and coordinating closely with NACSB to embed electrification into existing routing and maintenance practices. CEO Duncan McIntyre emphasized that the Topeka deployment is designed to provide predictable operating costs and healthier, quieter transportation for students, reinforcing Highland’s value proposition of budget stability and risk transfer for school districts. The scale of the Topeka project further validates Highland’s EaaS model and supports its positioning as North America’s leading school bus electrification partner, including its role as Official Electric School Bus Provider of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Team USA. With policy momentum and grant funding continuing to accelerate school bus fleet conversions, this deployment signals additional growth opportunities for Highland among districts seeking turnkey electrification without large upfront capital outlays or technical complexity.