6 Colorado School Buses Now Power Homes After Drop-Off

School buses in a Denver suburb are proving they can do much more than transport kids safely to class.

Cherry Creek School District just launched six electric buses that charge overnight, drive their routes, and then feed unused battery power back to the electric grid during peak evening hours. The clever system helps power homes when families return from work and flip on appliances, air conditioners, and TVs.

The buses typically return from their afternoon routes with hundreds of kilowatt hours still in their batteries. Instead of sitting idle until morning, they now support the neighborhood through a bi-directional charging system developed by Highland Electric Fleets. The buses recharge during off-peak nighttime hours when electricity demand drops.

The entire project cost Cherry Creek School District nothing. Highland Electric Fleets secured a $2.4 million federal rebate that covered the six buses and their new charging facility, which broke ground on June 3rd.

Jennifer Perry, the district's interim superintendent, says the partnership delivers both environmental wins and long-term savings. Electric buses need far less maintenance than diesel models because they have 95 percent fewer moving parts. With diesel prices still elevated, the operational savings add up quickly.

The Ripple Effect

Highland Electric Fleets estimates that just 24 of these buses could manage excess power demand from 100 homes during peak hours. Scale that up to 200 buses, and you're supporting over 1,000 households.

The benefits reach beyond the power grid. Neighborhoods will breathe cleaner air without diesel exhaust from traditional school buses. Kids waiting at bus stops will experience less noise pollution. Parents can feel good knowing their children ride in vehicles that actively support the community.

Highland Electric Fleets is running several similar pilot programs across the country, testing how school bus fleets can become distributed energy resources for stressed power grids.

Communities are discovering that the humble school bus can be a climate solution, a cost saver, and a grid stabilizer all at once.