Native Electric

Native Electric

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) has shown exceptional leadership in pursuit of cleaner electrified transportation. In 2017, EBCI’s Office of Natural Resources applied for and was awarded the first electric school bus in North Carolina, funded by the NC Department of Environmental Quality Division of Air Quality from VW Settlement funds. EBCI and Cherokee Boys Club were encouraged and decided to apply for a competitive EPA grant through the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) program. They were awarded funds to support four new electric school buses, which Duke Energy has supplemented with funds for equipment to charge the buses. In 2021, the EBCI Tribal Council ratified a target of 50% of vehicles being electric vehicles or hybrids. They have gone on to pursue 14 more electric school buses through EPA’s Clean School Bus lottery program. They have also hosted a School Bus Drag Race to showcase the performance of their electric school bus in competition with a diesel school bus.