The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is on track to become the first tribal nation to fully transition its school bus fleet to electric by the end of 2025, according to the World Resources Institute. The move follows the deployment of the tribe’s first electric school bus in 2022 and is part of a growing effort among tribal nations and Native communities to reduce emissions and improve student health.
As of July, more than 400 electric school buses operate in 70 Native school districts nationwide. Communities including the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina, the Passamaquoddy Tribe in Maine, Red Lake Nation in Minnesota and Shawnee Public Schools in Oklahoma have adopted the technology, citing cost savings, cleaner air and cultural integration as key benefits.