Despite the delays, Montgomery County Public Schools did not end its relationship with Highland Electric Fleets - or enforce penalties for the company's lapses, the county's inspector general found. Now the district is spending more than $14 million to buy diesel buses as it faces a vehicle shortage. In 2021, the Montgomery school district pledged to replace 326 of its diesel school buses with electric ones, making it the nation's largest electric school bus fleet. The school board approved the $168 million project and the system entered a contract with Highland Electric Fleets. The contract stipulated that 25 buses would be available by Aug. 1, 2021, according to the county inspector general.

Source: Washington Post July 31, 2024 02:39 UTC