A Washington state transportation cooperative has placed 14 Thomas Built Jouley electric school buses into service across four school districts. KWRL Transportation Cooperative will operate the fleet from depots in Woodland and Ridgefield, supported by 16 Zerova 30 kW chargers installed on-site.
Highlights
- Fleet scope: 14 electric buses serving Kalama, Woodland, Ridgefield, and La Center school districts will transport 1,000 to 1,200 students daily across approximately 700 miles
- Projected savings: Woodland Public Schools and KWRL estimate $400,000 in total operational savings, including $200,000 annually from reduced diesel fuel and maintenance costs
- Funding sources: The project received $2.8 million from the EPA Clean School Bus Rebate Program, nearly $3.0 million from the Washington Department of Ecology, and $300,000 from Clark Public Utilities
- Service model: Highland Electric Fleets is providing Electrification-as-a-Service support for vehicles, charging infrastructure, and ongoing fleet operations
Project Partners and Infrastructure
The deployment brings together multiple organizations to support vehicle acquisition, charging infrastructure, and daily operations. Highland Electric Fleets is coordinating the project through its Electrification-as-a-Service model, which consolidates electric bus procurement, charging equipment, and fleet management into a single service agreement.
Additional partners include:
- Schetky – Thomas Built dealer
- Clark Public Utilities – utility support and infrastructure funding
- Cowlitz Public Utility District – utility coordination
- Accurate Electric Unlimited – electrical installation
- Maddox Industrial Transformer – transformer equipment
“This project is a testament to the power of partnership,” said Shannon Barnett, Transportation Director at KWRL. “Moving this venture from the application phase to daily operations was a shared endeavor, and it simply would not have been possible without the collaboration of our dedicated partners.”
Funding Breakdown
The project secured funding from federal, state, and local sources:
- $2.8 million – EPA Clean School Bus Rebate Program (Round 3)
- Nearly $3.0 million – Washington Department of Ecology for vehicles and infrastructure
- $300,000 – Clark Public Utilities for Ridgefield depot infrastructure
Health and Operational Benefits
Electric school buses eliminate diesel exhaust exposure along daily routes and at bus stops. According to Highland Electric Fleets CEO Duncan McIntyre, replacing five diesel school buses with electric models reduces the risk of pediatric asthma for 1,500 students.
The transition also provides quieter operation, which McIntyre noted supports a calmer environment for students at the start of the school day.
About the Organizations
KWRL Transportation Cooperative serves the Kalama, Woodland, Ridgefield, and La Center school districts through shared administrative, maintenance, and student management services. Washington state encourages such cooperatives to help small and rural districts achieve transportation efficiencies.
Highland Electric Fleets, founded in 2019, provides Electrification-as-a-Service to school districts, municipalities, and fleet operators across North America. The company serves as the Official Electric School Bus Provider of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Team USA. More information is available at www.highlandfleets.com.
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