State of West Virginia purchases $15M of GreenPower electric school buses
by CM staff
As part of the order, GreenPower received a $3 million deposit from the state per the agreement with the company to manufacture zero-emission, all-electric school buses in West Virginia.
GreenPower’s Type D BEAST electric school bus in front of the West Virginia Capital. Photo : GreenPower.
SOUTH CHARLESTON — GreenPower Motor Company Inc., received an order for 41 GreenPower electric, purpose-built Type D BEAST and Type A Nano BEAST school buses totaling $15 million from the state of West Virginia. As part of the order, GreenPower received a $3 million deposit from the state per the agreement with the company to manufacture zero-emission, all-electric school buses in West Virginia.
“Since we first announced our intent to manufacture in West Virginia, we’ve made tremendous progress on our mission to be the leading manufacturer of purpose-built, all-electric school buses,” said Brendan Riley, President and Director at GreenPower. “Today marks another milestone on that journey through our partnership with the state of West Virginia. We have been able to reach this point because of the strong commitment to GreenPower and an all-of-the-above energy policy by Governor Jim Justice, his cabinet and the leadership of the state legislature. We look forward to continue providing a positive impact on West Virginia’s economy with clean energy jobs.”
Since taking possession of the West Virginia manufacturing facility in August of 2022, GreenPower has been performing final assembly and inspection on EV Star Cab & Chassis in the plant as part of its supply agreement with Workhouse Group. This announcement marks GreenPower’s shift in production at the South Charleston facility to all-electric school buses.
Beginning in the next few weeks, GreenPower’s East Coast manufacturing facility will first begin production of its Nano BEAST. The company will then transition to the production of the Type D BEAST at the facility.
Operating and maintenance costs for a GreenPower electric school bus is believed to be 70 per cent to 80 per cent less than a conventional diesel school bus. The West Virginia legislature has also passed a new law providing an additional 15 per cent to school districts under the state’s School Foundation Allowance for miles driven in a GreenPower all-electric school bus manufactured in West Virginia.
