Dearborn Public Schools, Michigan’s third-largest school district, has expanded its student transportation fleet with 18 new electric school buses, marking a significant step toward cleaner, quieter, and more sustainable travel for its students. The new buses, Blue Bird All American Type D models, were supplied by Highland Electric Fleets and will serve daily routes across the district.
Each bus can travel up to 120 miles on a single charge and recharges overnight within 6 to 8 hours. With a passenger capacity of up to 84 students, these buses use 155 kWh NMC battery cells and have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 16 tonnes. To support the fleet’s charging needs, Highland has installed 20 BorgWarner charging stations across the district, enabling efficient overnight and downtime charging.
The initiative was made possible through $7.1 million in grant funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Rebate Program. The buses were purchased via Holland Bus Company, a Blue Bird dealership based in Michigan.
Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko said, “The addition of these 18 electric buses is another example of how our district is leading the way and taking actions that will benefit students and the greater Dearborn community. There is also a lesson here for our students about the importance of being good stewards of the environment and taking steps to be a role model. We also appreciate the $7.1 million in grant funding from the EPA that made the purchase of these buses possible.”
Dearborn Public Schools currently serves around 20,000 students across 37 schools. The district expects the electric buses to reduce fuel and maintenance costs significantly compared to its diesel-powered fleet.
Joshua Williams, Senior Midwestern Regional Manager at Highland Electric Fleets, highlighted the broader benefits of the transition: “This investment represents a commitment to cleaner, quieter student transportation, which can improve student performance and reduce asthma risk, especially in communities like Dearborn where asthma rates may be higher than the national average. We’re honoured to partner with Dearborn in making this vision a reality.”