The Future Of Electric Fleets
October 14, 2026
Duncan McIntyre, founder and CEO of Highland Electric Fleets, joins Jeff Dance to explore how electrification as a service is transforming school bus, refuse, and municipal fleets. Duncan explains how Highland finances, builds, and operates electric fleets in more than 100 cities, including 500 electric school buses for the LA28 Olympic Games. He argues that every workhorse vehicle on a predictable route will ultimately be electrified, and that EV fleets can strengthen the grid as data centers drive up power demand. The conversation also covers autonomy, AI-driven maintenance, and new EV workforce jobs.
Episode Breakdown
0:00 - Podcast Hook/Intro
Standard "The Future Of" podcast opening.
0:00 - Podcast Hook/Intro
Standard "The Future Of" podcast opening.
0:40 - Introduction
Jeff Dance introduces Duncan McIntyre, founder and CEO of Highland Electric Fleets, the official electric school bus provider for the LA28 Olympic Games.
Jeff Dance introduces Duncan McIntyre, founder and CEO of Highland Electric Fleets, the official electric school bus provider for the LA28 Olympic Games.
2:40 - Duncan's Path to Highland
Duncan shares how founding Altenex and working in renewable energy led him to build a company that stitches together the financing, charging, and workforce needed to electrify fleets.
Duncan shares how founding Altenex and working in renewable energy led him to build a company that stitches together the financing, charging, and workforce needed to electrify fleets.
5:24 - Life Outside of Work
Duncan discusses his passion for organic farming and what COVID-era supply chain disruptions revealed about local food resilience.
Duncan discusses his passion for organic farming and what COVID-era supply chain disruptions revealed about local food resilience.
9:16 - Electric Buses for the LA28 Olympics
Duncan explains how Highland will run 500 electric school buses for the Olympics while building lasting infrastructure for Southern California communities.
Duncan explains how Highland will run 500 electric school buses for the Olympics while building lasting infrastructure for Southern California communities.
12:32 - Technology Advancements Enabling Scale
Duncan describes how cheaper equipment, remote diagnostics, and 99%-plus uptime have moved cities from small pilots to full fleet transitions.
Duncan describes how cheaper equipment, remote diagnostics, and 99%-plus uptime have moved cities from small pilots to full fleet transitions.
16:31 - Electrification as a Service
Duncan explains Highland's service model and how a father's concern about diesel fumes and pediatric asthma inspired the company's focus on school buses.
Duncan explains Highland's service model and how a father's concern about diesel fumes and pediatric asthma inspired the company's focus on school buses.
18:42 - Expanding to Refuse Fleets
Duncan shares how Highland is electrifying garbage trucks to make them quieter, cleaner, and cheaper to run.
Duncan shares how Highland is electrifying garbage trucks to make them quieter, cleaner, and cheaper to run.
19:43 - Taking On the Financial Risk
Duncan explains how Highland capitalizes the equipment and charges cities per mile so their payback is immediate.
Duncan explains how Highland capitalizes the equipment and charges cities per mile so their payback is immediate.
20:47 - Staying Focused on the Public Sector
Duncan explains why Highland will keep serving cities, school districts, and municipalities rather than corporate logistics fleets.
Duncan explains why Highland will keep serving cities, school districts, and municipalities rather than corporate logistics fleets.
23:31 - Vehicle-to-Grid and Community Resilience
Duncan describes how idle bus batteries can back up critical facilities and help balance the electric grid.
Duncan describes how idle bus batteries can back up critical facilities and help balance the electric grid.
26:06 - Electric Fleets in 10 to 20 Years
Duncan predicts that every workhorse vehicle will ultimately be electrified and that more than half of the US surface fleet will go electric.
Duncan predicts that every workhorse vehicle will ultimately be electrified and that more than half of the US surface fleet will go electric.
29:23 - Battery and Charging Innovation
Jeff and Duncan discuss how faster charging and better battery chemistry are eliminating range anxiety and making electrification inevitable.
Jeff and Duncan discuss how faster charging and better battery chemistry are eliminating range anxiety and making electrification inevitable.
33:16 - Autonomy in Municipal Fleets
Duncan outlines where autonomy makes sense first, from street sweepers to self-parking buses, and why the workforce will remain essential.
Duncan outlines where autonomy makes sense first, from street sweepers to self-parking buses, and why the workforce will remain essential.
37:12 - Data Centers and Grid Demand
Duncan argues that EV fleets are a solution to rising data center power demand because they charge off-peak and send power back to the grid at peak times.
Duncan argues that EV fleets are a solution to rising data center power demand because they charge off-peak and send power back to the grid at peak times.
40:27 - Converging Technologies
Duncan explains how AI-driven routing, smart charging algorithms, and predictive maintenance are modernizing fleet operations.
Duncan explains how AI-driven routing, smart charging algorithms, and predictive maintenance are modernizing fleet operations.
45:36 - New Jobs in the EV Workforce
Duncan describes the upskilled fleet technician roles emerging as diagnostics, remote repair, and manufacturer training reshape fleet maintenance.
Duncan describes the upskilled fleet technician roles emerging as diagnostics, remote repair, and manufacturer training reshape fleet maintenance.
50:15 - Closing Thoughts
Duncan reflects on the community benefits of fleet electrification and why he believes the next three to four years will bring major transformation.
Duncan reflects on the community benefits of fleet electrification and why he believes the next three to four years will bring major transformation.
Previous guests include: Gurdeep Pall of Microsoft, Carolyn Belle of Astroscale, Kane Simms of VUX World, Rogger Kibbe of Samsung Research America, Rob Tiffany of Sustainable Logix, Katrina Stevens of Tech Interactive,
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