General Manager

Belmont Public Schools adds electric buses to transportation fleet for 2026-2027 school year. Belmont Public Schools March 5, 2026 Belmont Public Schools has partnered with Highland Fleets to secure a $1.8 million grant to support the electrification of the district's transportation services. Through a 10-year agreement, Highland Fleets will use the granting funds to acquire electric school buses and install the necessary charging infrastructure to serve the Belmont fleet. The transition will begin with at least three electric buses in service by September 2026, with the long-term goal of converting the entire fleet to electric vehicles over the course of the contract, pending additional grant funding. Day-to-day transportation operations will be managed by Doherty's Garage, a long-established school transportation provider. The adoption of electric buses reflects the School Committee's policy commitment to responsible environmental stewardship and directly supports the Town of Belmont's Climate Action Plan (2009) and Climate Action Roadmap (2019). Both documents demonstrate Belmont's long-standing dedication to the sustainable use of energy, water, and other natural resources, a commitment that is formally referenced in School Committee Policy ECF. By transitioning to electric school buses, the district is advancing these established climate goals and taking meaningful action to reduce emissions, promote cleaner air, and model sustainability for students and the broader community. "The Belmont School Committee supports the district's work to introduce electric school buses," said Meg Moriarty, Chair of the Belmont School Committee. "This initiative aligns with our Sustainable Use of Resources policy and the Town's Climate Action goals, while supporting a cleaner, healthier transportation system for students and responsible long-term stewardship of district resources. I want to recognize the work of district leadership, who began exploring this opportunity more than three years ago, and the valuable collaboration and input from Belmont's Energy Committee throughout the process." This initiative was made possible through both a state contract as well as competitive pricing supported by grant funding, making the cost to the district comparable to a traditional diesel fleet. By partnering with Highland Fleets, a company specializing in school bus electrification, Belmont gains expert support in vehicle procurement, site development, and charging infrastructure, with start-up and operational logistics fully managed by the company. In collaboration with an established transportation provider, the district can modernize its fleet while continuing to deliver safe, reliable, and efficient daily service for students and families. Launching this EV initiative marks an important step in Belmont Public Schools' commitment to sustainability and student health. By adding electric buses, the district is reducing emissions, supporting Belmont's climate goals, and providing cleaner, reliable transportation for students.

Highland Electric Fleets raises $150 million equity round to speed up national expansion. Highland Electric Fleets revealed today that it has secured up to $150 million in new equity financing from Aiga Capital Partners, enabling the company to support growth plans and prepare for expanded deployments beginning in 2026. Highland's business model is built on long-term, government-backed contracts that deliver stable revenue while facilitating high-quality asset development across its portfolio. Through its Electrification-as-a-Service (EaaS) model, the firm handles financing and incentives, site work, procurement of vehicles and chargers, utility coordination, training, and ongoing support. This end-to-end approach underpins its track record and ability to draw fresh equity and unlock additional debt capacity as it scales. The company currently operates in more than 30 states, serving a diverse range of communities from Compton, California to Dixie County, Florida. Its electric buses have logged more than 7 million miles in total. Highland is gearing up for a major rollout in 2026 that will include larger district deployments, multi-site projects, and new charging hubs. The funding also supports Highland's planned entry into new markets next year, meeting growing demand for reliable electrification partners. As part of the investment agreement, Aiga's managing partner will join Highland's board. "At Aiga, we back platforms that can scale essential infrastructure with consistency and discipline," said Angel Fierro, Managing Partner of Aiga Capital Partners. The company's confidence reflects its assessment of Highland's operating capabilities, asset quality, and growth potential. The financing comes at a time when other districts are ramping up their own electric-bus efforts. For example, Ann Arbor Public Schools recently announced plans to gradually electrify its entire 131-bus fleet, aiming for full electrification by 2035. Highland's recent high-profile win as the official electric school bus provider for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, tasked with supplying 500 zero-emission buses and associated charging infrastructure for the event, illustrates how the company is positioning itself as a major national player.