Highland Electric Fleets Delivers New Amherst School Bus Electrification Project Backed by Federal and State Grants

New updates have been reported about Highland Electric Fleets.

Highland Electric Fleets has completed a turnkey school bus electrification project for Amherst-Pelham Regional School District in Massachusetts, underscoring the company’s role in scaling electric school transportation across the U.S. The deployment centers on three new Thomas Built Jouley Type C electric school buses supplied through Highland, integrated with an existing electric bus, and supported by four new V2G-ready 60kW DC fast chargers plus one pre-existing charger to enable daily operations and future fleet expansion.

For Highland, the Amherst project illustrates its Electrification-as-a-Service model, combining vehicles, charging infrastructure, and project management in partnership with utilities and local contractors. The initiative leverages a $600,000 rebate from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program and a $500,000 grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s Accelerating Clean Transportation program, with additional federal incentives reducing capital burden for the district and reinforcing demand for Highland’s financed solutions.

By designing a system that supports vehicle-to-grid capability, Highland positions itself to monetize future grid services while helping customers hedge against energy cost volatility and regulatory pressure on diesel fleets. The operational benefits highlighted by the district—lower maintenance from fewer moving parts, reduced fuel costs, and quieter operation—align with Highland’s value proposition and can be used as a case study to win similar municipal and school clients.

Senior Vice President of Market Development Matt Stanberry emphasized that the Amherst deployment demonstrates a practical, phased approach to incorporating new technology into daily student transportation while improving health outcomes. The public ribbon-cutting and ride-along event also serve as visible proof of execution, strengthening Highland’s brand with policymakers, grant-makers, and community stakeholders as it pursues additional projects funded by federal and state decarbonization programs.