Native Electric: Powering the Future with Electric School Buses in Cherokee, North Carolina
Cherokee Boys Club, the school bus operator for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in Cherokee, North Carolina, is combining electric school buses, solar energy and a microgrid to build a cleaner, more resilient future for their community.
Nestled in the mountains of western North Carolina, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is lighting the path toward a more sustainable and resilient future. Through the Native Electric project, Cherokee Central Schools and the Cherokee Boys Club have launched a groundbreaking clean energy initiative that brings together electric school buses, solar canopies, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology and a microgrid, creating a model for communities across the nation.
The project’s 16 electric school buses quietly transport students each day, reducing harmful emissions and improving air quality. By the end of 2025, the Cherokee Boys Club will operate a fully electric school bus fleet. Above the buses, solar canopies generate renewable power, feeding both the buses and soon their broader microgrid system. Through an innovative V2G pilot, these buses are sending energy back to the grid, providing added resilience.
This collaboration reflects the Tribe’s long-standing commitment to protecting the land and future generations. For Cherokee Boys Club, it’s also about showing students what’s possible: clean energy and technology can strengthen communities, honor culture and build pathways to a sustainable future.