GreenPower Motor Company, a manufacturer of electric medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, has launched the second round of its pilot project with the state of West Virginia to demonstrate all-electric school buses in the Clay, Grant, Monongalia and Ohio county school districts. In this phase, the pilot program will incorporate new terrains, colder weather and longer bus routes.

Three GreenPower Type D BEAST electric school buses will be deployed in the Grant, Monongalia and Ohio school districts, while Clay County will deploy a Type A Nano BEAST with ADA capabilities.

As in the first round, GreenPower will work with the school districts to ensure adequate charging infrastructure is provided for the pilot. Training will be provided for first responders, drivers and mechanics.

GreenPower will collect data from the pilot program, including range, charging infrastructure needs and usage rates, operating and maintenance, student and parent acceptance and more. The data will provide school districts and GreenPower with insights that will help manage the coming transition from diesel to electric school buses.

GreenPower offers a comprehensive turn-key program to school districts that includes buses, infrastructure, training, maintenance and deployment assistance.

“We are thrilled to bring clean transportation to West Virginia and beyond, and to help school districts test GreenPower’s all-electric school buses in real-world scenarios,” said Fraser Atkinson, CEO of GreenPower. “The difference in topical geography and weather will provide us valuable data and a good understanding of how the buses will perform in more mountainous terrain and a colder climate.”

Source: GreenPower Motor Company