EVs in the Public Sector: How Sawatch Labs is Helping School Fleets Confidently Go Electric
Electric school buses are rolling out across the country, but behind every successful deployment is something far less glamorous: planning. At Sawatch Labs, we are firm believers that real, detailed, data-driven planning is the key to a successful electric fleet transition. During Texas Electric School Bus Project’s webinar on school bus electrification David Fuchs, our Business Development Specialist, and Mary Till, our Sr. Business Development Specialist, recently joined national leaders and school district representatives for Texas Electric School Bus Project’s webinar on school bus electrification. Dto discussion focused on how data, modeling, and long-term thinking are helping districts like Denver Public Schools (DPS) move forward with confidence.
In particular, this session spotlighted how our team at Sawatch Labs’ team combines analytics, partnerships, and hands-on experience to help school districts plan for electric buses and the associated charging infrastructure. Through our work with over 200 fleets and partnerships with organizations like Xcel Energy, Geotab, and WEX (our parent company), we’re uniquely positioned to guide districts through every step of the electrification journey—from initial data gathering to long-term infrastructure planning.
Optimizing School Bus Electrification with Real Data
One of the central themes of the webinar was the value of data—real-world, long-term, fleet-specific data. At Sawatch Labs, we use advanced energy modeling and fleet operational data to understand how vehicles are being used and the mechanics of replacing them with EVs. When we start a project, four of the most important questions we answer are:
How much energy does each vehicle need for driving each day of the week?
Where will the vehicles be parked?
How long do vehicles sit idle?
What’s the local climate, terrain, and traffic like?
These questions were our focus working with Denver Public Schools (DPS), through our collaboration with Xcel Energy’s Fleet Electrification Advisory Program. We analyzed more than two years of driving data for 500 plus DPS vehicles. We aimed to determine which vehicles could be replaced with EVs, identify where charging infrastructure should be located, and minimize any impact on day-to-day operations in the process.
The results: of the 250 vehicles were technically suitable for EV replacement, only 89 operationally and financially made sense to replace. That kind of nuanced understanding—balancing climate goals with financial reality—is what our platform and analysis provide. Additionally, the analysis identified the ideal ICE bus candidates to replace with battery electric buses through the EPA grant program. Our operational data analysis over the last two years allowed DPS to optimize the short list of buses. This ensured the vehicles met all of the federal requirements for historic utilization and were the best candidates for electrification.
Right-Sizing Infrastructure and Setting Realistic Expectations
Planning charging infrastructure is often one of the most intimidating parts of the electrification process—but it doesn’t have to be. In our recent webinar, we shared how thoughtful planning, backed by real-world data, helped Denver Public Schools (DPS) approach adoption with clarity and confidence.
Using detailed modeling and site-specific analysis, we showed that right-sizing charging infrastructure could reduce infrastructure costs by as much as 65%. By aggregating site demand and mapping out energy use over time, we helped DPS develop plans based on projected charging demand. This allowed DPS to plan the construction of a central charging hub that met their current needs while leaving room for future growth.
We also looked closely at seasonal patterns, operational changes due to bell schedule changes across the district, and field trip schedules to flag rare high-usage days that might require midday charging, all while keeping investments lean. And we identified opportunities for managed charging and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) applications—strategies that reduce peak demand costs and strengthen overall grid resilience.
Planning infrastructure this way is a lot like measuring a space before a remodel: you need to understand your constraints before making major changes. Our data-driven analysis provides utilities and facilities staff and engineers the insights they need to design for today with the future in mind.
Small Starts and Scalable Solutions
Another point we always emphasize to school districts is that you don’t have to electrify everything at once. In fact, we often recommend starting with low-cost, low-risk segments of the fleet—such as light-duty “white fleet” vehicles used for maintenance or administration. These vehicles are typically easier to electrify and can serve as proof points that help build trust and buy-in across departments.
Our analysis also supports fleet rightsizing—identifying underutilized vehicles that can be removed from the roster entirely. This reduces not only emissions and fuel costs but also future capital expenses. Every vehicle you don’t need is one less vehicle to replace down the line.
Bridging the Gap Between Vehicles and Infrastructure
Every fleet electrification journey comes with a few bumps in the road. The key is engaging with an experienced partner who knows how to guide you with clarity and confidence. One common challenge we see is misaligned timelines—vehicles arriving before infrastructure is in place, or chargers installed long before they’re needed. That’s why we encourage districts to take a long-term view, even when immediate funding is limited.
Our work with DPS is a great example. By identifying infrastructure phases that could be rolled out over time, we helped them pace their investment while staying aligned with their broader electrification goals.
Collaboration Is Key
Perhaps the most important message from the webinar is this: school bus electrification is a cross-functional, joint effort. School districts don’t have to go it alone. Sawatch Labs works closely with utilities, state programs, technology providers, and industry partners to ensure districts have access to the right resources at the right time.
We offer objective, data-driven insights with no sales agenda. Our primary objective is providing actionable information schools can use to make the best possible decisions when it comes to school bus electrification. Whether you’re starting with just a few vehicles or planning for a district-wide transformation, our tools and services are built to scale.
Learn More & Watch the Webinar
If you’re a school district exploring fleet electrification—or already in the middle of it—we encourage you to watch the full webinar and hear directly from our team. You’ll learn more about our the methodology, our DPS analysis, the partnerships that made their electrification possible, and the strategic insights that helped Denver Public Schools align their climate goals with financial reality.