Highland Electric Fleets Expands Midwest Footprint With Toledo School Bus Electrification Deal

New updates have been reported about Highland Electric Fleets.

Highland Electric Fleets is deepening its Midwest presence through a new Electrification-as-a-Service agreement with Toledo Public Schools that will deploy 12 IC Bus Type C electric school buses and related charging infrastructure ahead of the 2026–2027 school year. The project, supported by approximately $4.7 million from Round 2 of the U.S. EPA Clean School Bus Program, positions Highland at the center of a district-wide fleet transition strategy that targets long-term operating savings, reduced diesel exposure, and improved student health.

Under its comprehensive service model, Highland will provide vehicles, charging, financing, and ongoing operational support via long-term contracts structured to match traditional fuel costs, giving Toledo predictable cash flows while modernizing its 118-bus fleet. The district expects that once 80 to 90 percent of its buses run on propane and electricity, it could save up to $1 million annually, underscoring the financial relevance of this and future Highland-enabled deployments. The partnership also links directly to workforce development: Toledo’s Electric Vehicle Lab and student-run dispatch academy will use the new electric buses as real-world training platforms, reinforcing Highland’s role not only as an infrastructure and service provider but also as an enabler of regional EV technical talent. Executives should note that this deal strengthens Highland’s reference base in Ohio and the broader Midwest, supports its positioning as a leading provider of school bus electrification at scale, and demonstrates how federal funding streams and educational partnerships can be leveraged to drive both recurring service revenue and long-term customer lock-in.