MPS students who are used to listening for the rumble of their diesel-powered school bus soon will be hearing a gentle whir from their new electric school buses instead.  

Milwaukee Public Schools is taking a major step forward to modernize student transportation: It will roll out electric school buses in phases, starting in the fall, MPS Superintendent Brenda Cassellius, EdD, announced on Monday. 

It’s a step that will nip MPS’s rising fuel costs — which accounted for an additional $800,000 in the past three months, as diesel prices surged — and will help improve air quality for students and neighborhoods across Milwaukee, contributing toward MPS’s sustainability goal.  

The initiative comes at no additional cost to MPS.  

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean School Bus grants and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding is covering the cost of the vehicles, which are provided by Highland Electric Fleets, as well as the charging stations needed to operate them. MPS’s transportation partners will cover electricity costs. 

The first 50 buses are arriving now and are set to begin serving about 6,000 students in September. Ultimately, the school district will have 150 electric buses in place by the start of the 2028-29 school year. 

The rollout is being done in partnership with district transportation providers Wisconsin Central, Lakeside (Student Transportation of America), and First Student. 

The large-scale rollout puts Milwaukee among the leading districts nationwide in adopting an electric-bus fleet. MPS’s unique multivendor approach allows the district to scale efficiently while maintaining flexibility. 

“Every new electric bus on the road replaces a diesel one, which means cleaner air for our students and healthier communities,” Dr. Cassellius said. “This initiative builds on the district’s five-year District Sustainability Action Plan, developed with input from hundreds of stakeholders, and in partnership with the Green Schools National Network. 

“By reducing bus emissions and managing resources responsibly, we are taking meaningful steps toward creating a healthier, more sustainable Milwaukee for all,” Dr. Cassellius said. 

The transition comes as rising and unpredictable diesel prices put pressure on school budgets nationwide. Under the district’s current transportation contract with its vendors, MPS pays fuel surcharges when diesel costs exceed the established benchmark; those surcharges totaled $800,000 between March and June. Shifting from diesel to electric will eliminate those surcharges entirely for these buses.  

“Milwaukee Public Schools has been a tremendous partner in bringing this vision to life, and together with Highland Electric Fleets, we are delivering something that genuinely matters to families across this community,” said Wisconsin Central Chief Executive Officer Jason Walker. “These vehicles will lower costs for the district, put cleaner air in front of every student who rides to school, and set a new standard for what student transportation can look like. Wisconsin Central is proud to be part of that.” 

"Replacing just five diesel school buses with electric buses can reduce the risk of pediatric asthma for approximately 1,500 students,” said Ben Schutzman, Chief Operating Officer at Highland Electric Fleets.  

Eliminating tailpipe emissions and reducing exposure to harmful pollutants is seen as an important step in a city where asthma rates remain a concern. 

“For school districts, the benefits extend beyond student health. Electric school buses have 97% fewer moving parts than traditional diesel vehicles, helping reduce maintenance costs, lower long-term operating expenses, and provide more predictable transportation budgets," Mr. Schutzman added. 

Construction of charging stations is taking place at transportation provider locations. Buses will be charged overnight and during the day, between running morning and afternoon routes, said David Fifarek, senior director of Business and Transportation Services.