GreenPower Launches Next Round of All-Electric School Bus Pilot Project in Four New School Districts in West Virginia

Pilot project will continue to evaluate the performance of the buses on rural roads, in mountainous conditions and in cooler temperatures

 GreenPower Motor Company Inc. manufacturer and distributor of purpose-built, all-electric, zero-emission medium and heavy-duty vehicles serving the cargo and delivery market, shuttle and transit space and school bus sector, today announced the launch of Round 4 of its pilot project to demonstrate all-electric school buses in Mineral, Lewis, Harrison and Upshur County school districts in West Virginia.

Three all-electric GreenPower Type D BEAST school buses will be deployed in Mineral, Lewis and Harrison school districts, while Upshur County will deploy the award-winning, all-electric Type A Nano BEAST. This round of the pilot project will continue to evaluate the performance of the buses on rural roads, in mountainous conditions and in cooler temperatures.

The round will also continue to assess charging options by including systems provided by S&B USA eMobility and Francis Energy in Lewis and Upshur counties. This infrastructure utilizes a state of the art Level 2 charger that far exceeds the necessary charging rates for successful operations. Similar charging rates are typically available only with DC Fast Charge infrastructure, at a serious price premium. The chargers come packaged with an industry changing operations management software that will allow fleet operators to remotely inspect, trouble-shoot, reset and track both their chargers and vehicles to ensure operational excellence and eliminate unnecessary downtime.

“GreenPower’s BEAST and Nano BEAST continue to prove their capabilities in colder weather conditions and mountainous terrain and we look forward to launching Round 4 of our pilot project with Mineral, Lewis, Harrison and Upshur counties and gathering valuable data,” said GreenPower CEO and Chairman Fraser Atkinson. “We’re committed to continue bringing healthier transportation alternatives to the children and communities of West Virginia to help reshape how students travel to and from school.”

Round 4 of the pilot program will focus on districts with mountainous roads and cooler conditions. The data collected from each of the pilot program rounds continue to prove an electric bus is just as capable as an ICE bus on the same roads in the same conditions. A GreenPower bus was recently approved for purchase by Kanawha County Public Schools which was a participant in the first round of the pilot program.

“We are excited to see the positive impressions the BEAST left on Kanawha County after the school district purchased the first electric school bus in the state following their participation in the pilot program,” continued Atkinson.

GreenPower will continue to support school districts transitioning to all-electric buses through installing the proper charging infrastructure and the necessary training for each county’s first responders, mechanics and school bus drivers.

Mineral, Lewis, Harrison and Upshur County School Districts Press Conferences and Electric School Bus Deployment

This week, each of the counties participating in the pilot project will hold a press conference to discuss electrifying their school bus fleet as well as the health and safety benefits for children and the community. This coincides with the first deployments of the three all-electric BEASTs and one Nano BEAST in each county this week. Media are invited and encouraged to attend the press conference and first deployment activities.

Mineral County 

“Mineral County Schools appreciates the opportunity to help pilot this program. We’ve always taken pride in our diversified fleet, so it’s a great opportunity to learn more about the performance of electric buses,” said Troy Ravenscroft, Mineral County Superintendent.

• Press Conference: Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 1 p.m. ET at 1207 Harley O Staggers Drive, Keyser, WV
• First Deployment of GreenPower Electric School Bus: Wednesday, Mar. 1 at 6:15 a.m. ET at 1207 Harley O Staggers Drive, Keyser, WV

Harrison County

“Harrison County Schools recognizes that electric school buses are the future of school transportation and will shape the way students ride to school,” said James Lopez, assistant superintendent of Harrison County Schools. “We are excited to be a part of this program with GreenPower and have the ability to make riding an electric school bus a safe, clean experience that’s part of our student’s daily lives.”

• Press Conference: Wednesday, Mar. 1 at 1:30 p.m. ET at Victory Elementary, 1349 Shinnston Pike, Clarksburg, WV
• First Deployment of GreenPower Electric School Bus: Wednesday, Mar. 1 at 2:15 p.m. ET at Victory Elementary, 1349 Shinnston Pike, Clarksburg, WV

Upshur County

“We are excited to pilot the first electric school bus in Upshur County and to test this bus in our real world environment for the next 4 weeks. We know that zero emissions buses provide a healthier and clean environment. We look forward to the opportunity to pilot the Nano BEAST!” said Jodie Akers, Director of Transportation and Student Services, Upshur County Schools.

“I am extremely pleased that we will be testing the first electrically powered school bus on our Upshur County roads. Being a very rural county. it will be enlightening for our Transportation Department to see how we might adapt a possible future fleet of electric buses to be efficient and effective in our rural terrain,” said Superintendent Dr. Harrison.

• Press Conference: Thursday, Mar. 2 at 11:30 a.m. ET at Transportation Department, 141 Tallmansville Road Buckhannon, WV 26201
• First Deployment of GreenPower Electric School Bus: Friday, Mar. 3 at 6:15 a.m. ET at Transportation Department, 141 Tallmansville Road Buckhannon, WV 26201
  • Arrives at 7:20 Buckhannon Academy Elementary School – 16 College Avenue, Buckhannon, WV 26201
  • Arrives at 7:30 at Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School – 553 Route 20 South Road, Buckhannon, WV 26201
  • Arrives at 7:45 a.m. at Buckhannon-Upshur High School at 270 B-U Drive, Buckhannon, WV 26201

Lewis County

“We are proud to bring the students of Lewis County Schools a clean and safe way to get to and from school through our pilot program with GreenPower Motor and the state of West Virginia,” said Dr. Robin Lewis, Superintendent, Lewis County Schools. “Electric school buses provide a myriad of benefits that will have a positive impact both inside and outside the classroom.”

• Press Conference: Wednesday, Mar. 1 at 11:30 a.m. ET at the bus garage, 40 Armory Road Weston, WV 26452
• First Deployment of GreenPower Electric School Bus: Thursday, Mar. 2 at 6:30 a.m. ET at the bus garage, 40 Armory Road Weston, WV 26452 going to Leading Creek Elementary School arriving at 7:30 a.m.

GreenPower is in the midst of wrapping up the company’s third round pilot project in Boone, McDowell, Raleigh and Wyoming counties. The company will conduct one more round of the pilot program before the conclusion of the 2022-23 school year.

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