The expansion of electric school bus fleets is creating new construction and electrical infrastructure requirements for school districts, including charging systems that can be installed without disrupting active transportation facilities. Miller Electric is supporting Duval County Public Schools’ transition to electric buses through prefabricated charging infrastructure developed with Highland Electric Fleets.
Duval County Public Schools is deploying more than 30 electric school buses for the 2026-2027 school year. The district previously announced that 36 buses were obtained through federal Clean School Bus Program funding, with 26 operated by Durham School Services and 10 by Student Transportation of America.
The charging skids used for the Duval County initiative are factory-built and tested before delivery. By integrating major electrical components into a modular platform, more assembly and verification can be completed in a controlled manufacturing environment rather than at the operating fleet facility.
For contractors and facility owners, this approach can help coordinate electrical construction with ongoing transportation operations. Reducing field assembly can also limit site congestion, shorten installation activities and reduce the number of workers required in active areas.
Miller Electric said the skid-based approach can also reduce exposure to weather-related delays and labor constraints while improving installation predictability.
The charging infrastructure is a critical component of the school bus transition. Electric fleets require dependable charging capacity and electrical systems capable of supporting daily vehicle operations without interfering with existing depot functions.
The Duval County deployment illustrates how transportation electrification is expanding the scope of work for electrical contractors. Projects increasingly require coordination among fleet operators, charging technology providers, utilities, authorities having jurisdiction and construction teams.
Miller Electric's involvement included applying local knowledge of utility requirements and permitting processes while working within operating depot environments. The company said its teams helped address site constraints while maintaining operations during construction.
The broader project is part of Duval County's move toward a lower-emission transportation fleet. The school district's 36 electric buses are being placed into service across areas including the Northside, Downtown, the Beaches and Arlington.
For construction owners and contractors, fleet electrification creates opportunities beyond charger installation. Projects can require service upgrades, distribution equipment, controls, energy management systems, civil improvements and site modifications. Prefabricated electrical assemblies can become increasingly relevant where charging infrastructure must be installed at facilities that remain operational throughout construction.
As public agencies and private fleet operators increase electric vehicle adoption, construction teams will need to integrate charging infrastructure into existing facilities while managing utility capacity, permitting, safety and operational continuity.
The Duval County project demonstrates how prefabrication can shift portions of electrical construction away from constrained jobsites and support faster deployment. For contractors pursuing transportation electrification work, early coordination with utilities and authorities, standardized modular designs and careful phasing can become important factors in delivering fleet infrastructure efficiently.
Source: Miller Electric Company.
