Highland Electric Fleets to Deliver Turnkey EV Bus Program for California School District

New updates have been reported about Highland Electric Fleets.

Highland Electric Fleets is expanding its Electrification-as-a-Service footprint in California through a new long-term program with Rio Bravo-Greeley Union School District, which is breaking ground on an electric school bus initiative in Bakersfield. Under the agreement, Highland will supply the district with electric buses, design and deliver the on-site charging depot, and provide ongoing operational support, embedding the company in the district’s transportation operations over the life of the fleet.

The initial deployment will include eight electric school buses supported by a dedicated charging facility that Highland is helping engineer around the district’s existing route schedule, with completion targeted for early 2027. This design approach is intended to maximize vehicle uptime, ensure buses are ready for daily service, and allow scalable expansion as the district replaces more diesel units.

By bundling vehicles, infrastructure, and lifecycle services into a single offering, Highland strengthens its recurring revenue model and deepens its presence in the K–12 transportation market, particularly in California where school bus electrification is backed by state and federal incentives. The company highlights benefits such as reduced fuel-cost volatility, lower long-term maintenance due to fewer moving parts, and improved air quality for students and staff inside the buses.

Highland’s Chief Commercial Officer, Brian Buccella, emphasized that the project is a key step in the district’s broader electrification roadmap, projecting that the buses could cut students’ exposure to air pollution by up to 16% while delivering quieter rides. For Highland, the program reinforces its positioning as a leading turnkey provider capable of integrating vehicles, charging hardware, and fleet management services, and it may serve as a reference case for additional California districts pursuing similar transitions.

The groundbreaking ceremony, hosted by the district and featuring Highland alongside local stakeholders, signals tangible progress from planning to implementation and underscores the company’s strategy of partnering directly with school systems rather than selling hardware alone. As the depot comes online and the fleet ramps up, Highland stands to benefit from long-duration service and infrastructure contracts, deepening customer relationships and creating a platform for future upsizing of electric fleets.