GreenPower delivers aluminium-bodied BEAST school buses to West Virginia dealer

Delivery of the first four Type D all-electric, zero-emission, purpose-built BEAST school buses has been successfully conducted by GreenPower Motor Company Inc. to its West Virginia dealer. This has been done under Round 2 funding of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean School Bus Program (CSBP) for the Kanawha Country School District.  

Image source: GreenPower Motor Company

Nano BLAST buses are developed with a standard 118kWh battery pack ranging up to 140 miles. It has the capacity to hold 24 passengers featuring a seamless aluminium body made of extruded aluminium ensuring corrosion resistance, all thanks to Constellium. The fully flat floor design enables adjustable track seating without wheel wells in the passenger area, while the elevated floor keeps students out of the impact zone. Standard combined port charging supports Level 2 rates up to 19.2 kW and DC Fast Charging up to 85 kW, enabling a full charge in under three hours.

But, why is West Virginia keen towards adopting all-electric school buses? It has become crucial to implement administration changes to balance the CSBP with the company as well as others within the school bus industry.

An award of USD 18.565 million has been included within Round 2 of CSBP, funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IJJA). This award has been raised for seven West Virginia school districts for deploying 50 Greenpower all-electric, zero-emission and purpose-built school buses. This is also highlighted in a contract signed by the state's dealer of the manufacturing company back in December 2024.  

As put forward by GreenPower President Brendan Riley, "As stewards of public dollars that are being invested by the federal government in the transition to all-electric school buses, GreenPower and other American school bus manufacturers take our role serious to ensure timely delivery of safe, sustainable and sensible school buses manufactured in the U.S. to school districts who are depending on them to provide a safe, healthy means of transportation for 25 million kids per day."

In the coming weeks, more GreenPower all-electric, purpose-built, zero-emission school buses will be delivered under the Round 2 grant, moving toward the full deployment of 50 BEAST and Type A all-electric Nano BEAST school buses awarded to the schools. Grant County Public Schools, currently developing their charging infrastructure under the Round 2 grant with Highland Electric Fleets, will be the next district to receive their buses.