Cherry Creek School District Partners with Highland Electric Fleets and Xcel Energy on Electric School Bus Project

On June 4, the Cherry Creek School District celebrated a major milestone in its transportation modernization efforts with a groundbreaking ceremony for its new electric school bus depot. The project marks the beginning of a partnership with Highland Electric Fleets, North America’s leading provider of Electrification-as-a-Service (EaaS), to bring electric school buses and charging infrastructure to the District.

As part of the initiative, Highland Electric Fleets will provide six bidirectional-capable Type C IC electric school buses, six 60kW bidirectional chargers, fleet electrification services, and ongoing operational support. The deployment is also part of Xcel Energy’s bidirectional charging demonstration initiative, which will allow energy stored in the buses’ batteries to be sent back to the electric grid during periods of peak energy demand when the buses are not transporting students.

The project is supported by approximately $2.4 million in funding from Xcel Energy’s electric school bus rebate program, along with additional operating incentives.

“The Cherry Creek School District continues to seek opportunities to serve both the environment and taxpayers responsibly. This partnership works to support our environmental goals while delivering long-term operational savings,” said Dr. Jennifer Perry, CCSD Interim Superintendent.

The program will provide six new electric school buses to the District for a lease rate of approximately $20,000 per year. When combined with fuel and maintenance expenses, the total cost of ownership of a diesel bus over 12 years materially surpasses that of an electric bus offered through this program. The District evaluated multiple electrification options and determined this program offered a highly competitive total cost of ownership and strong long-term value while also including the charging infrastructure and ongoing support required for successful fleet operations. As part of the program, Highland and Xcel Energy will provide the infrastructure improvements at no cost to the District, and Highland will perform maintenance on the buses beyond routine checks and services 

Electric school buses are up to four times quieter than traditional diesel buses. While a quieter ride can help create a calmer environment for students and drivers alike, electric buses also have 97% fewer moving parts than diesel vehicles, helping reduce routine maintenance needs, lower long-term operating costs, and reduce exposure to diesel fuel price volatility over time. 

“School buses are one of the most visible and heavily used assets in any community, so transitioning them to electric technology can have a meaningful impact for students, drivers, and school districts,” said Brian Buccella, Chief Commercial Officer at Highland Electric Fleets. “Cherry Creek School District is building a program that not only modernizes daily student transportation but also showcases how bidirectional charging technology can support broader grid resiliency and energy management efforts beyond the school day.” 

The new depot represents another step forward in Cherry Creek School District’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources while enhancing transportation services for students and families.