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GreenPower Motor Company has confirmed an order for 50 all-electric school buses under the EPA Clean School Bus Program. This initiative, which awards $18.5 million for funding, aims to replace traditional diesel buses with clean, zero-emission alternatives. The new fleet, comprising Type D BEAST, Mega BEAST, and Type A Nano BEAST models, will serve seven county school districts in West Virginia.
Key Highlights:
- $18.5 million awarded by the EPA Clean School Bus Program for the purchase and infrastructure of 50 electric school buses.
- Seven West Virginia school districts will receive a mix of Type D BEAST, Mega BEAST, and Type A Nano BEAST models.
- Collaborative effort involving GreenPower, local dealer partners, and school districts to ensure effective deployment and charging infrastructure.
GreenPower, in collaboration with its West Virginia dealer and Highland Electric Fleet, worked closely with the seven participating school districts. They assessed each district’s needs, developed the grant application, and assisted with necessary charging infrastructure to support the buses. Monongalia County School District will fund an additional $550,000 due to its non-priority status with the EPA, raising the total order from 47 to 50 buses.
GreenPower’s President, Brendan Riley, highlighted the significance of this project in promoting sustainable school transport: “This electrification project is the type of activity Congress envisioned when it created the Clean School Bus Program in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.”
Steve Ellis, Vice President of Sales for GreenPower’s dealer, emphasized the importance of a cooperative approach: “The schools then all came together as a group and jointly decided how to proceed with the application process.” GreenPower and its partners made depot visits to each school to determine infrastructure needs, guiding the districts throughout the entire application process.
The buses, including models like the Mega BEAST with a class-leading range of 300 miles and the award-winning Nano BEAST, will be distributed across the school districts as follows:
- Cabell County: 6 BEASTs
- Calhoun County: 3 BEASTs and 1 Nano BEAST
- Clay County: 3 BEASTs
- Grant County: 3 BEASTs and 2 Nano BEASTs
- Kanawha County: 21 BEASTs
- Lewis County: 6 BEASTs
- Monongalia County: 1 Mega BEAST and 4 Nano BEASTs
Paul Start, GreenPower’s Vice President of Sales, mentioned that GreenPower’s all-electric school buses are also eligible for rebate funding under both the federal Clean School Bus Program and California’s ZESBI program. “Applications for the $965 million in Clean School Bus Program funding are due by January 9, 2025, and for the $500 million ZESBI funding by November 22, 2024.”
GreenPower’s Type D BEAST is designed for up to 90 students, featuring a high-strength steel truss chassis and a fully integrated aluminum body. With DC fast charging capabilities, the BEAST and its variants offer sustainable, efficient, and safe transport solutions for students across West Virginia. The Nano BEAST Access variant also features accessible options with BraunAbility wheelchair lifts for inclusive mobility.
GreenPower Motor Company continues to innovate in the all-electric vehicle market, producing purpose-built zero-emission vehicles that range from school buses to cargo vans and transit buses. The company focuses on integrating global suppliers for high-quality components while designing buses to meet operator requirements efficiently.
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