GreenPower Signs Contract for More Than $5 Million with State of New Mexico for All-Electric School Bus Pilot Program

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GreenPower Motor Company Inc., a leading manufacturer and distributor of all-electric, purpose-built, zero-emission medium and heavy-duty vehicles serving the cargo and delivery market, shuttle and transit space and school bus sector, earlier this month announced it has signed a contract with the state of New Mexico to implement an all-electric school bus pilot project. The contract is the result of an award made by the state under an RFP published in May.

The two-year pilot project will deploy three GreenPower Type A all-electric Nano BEAST Access school buses in the first school year (2025-26), and three GreenPower Type D all-electric BEAST and Mega BEAST school buses in the second school year (2026-27). The school buses will rotate around the state in five pilot rounds each school year with each round lasting six weeks. GreenPower will install charging systems, provide training for the drivers, mechanics and the community’s first responder and help ensure a seamless testing period.

Mega BEAST school bus. Image source: GreenPower

The contract between GreenPower and the state of New Mexico provides more than $5 million for the purchase of vehicles, cost of charging infrastructure and overall management of the pilot. GreenPower will support the implementation of the project from a location to be established in New Mexico. Based on voluntary requests to participate, school districts are currently being selected by the state to participate in the pilot. The manufacturing of the three Nano BEAST Access school buses is substantially complete and they will be ready for deployment for Round 1 the week of September 15.

The pilot will include both Level 3 DC fast chargers and Level 2 slow chargers for the Nano BEAST Access school buses, and will evaluate Level 3 DC fast charging in the second year with the BEAST school buses. A part of the second year will be a vehicle-to-grid evaluation using the GreenPower Mega BEAST. The Mega BEAST is a 40-foot Type D all-electric school bus that delivers a range of up to 300 miles on a single charge because of its massive 387 kWh battery pack. The range of the Mega BEAST is greater than any electric school bus in its class, according to GreenPower. It has the most compelling and cost effective V2G capability for a more stable electric grid and community sustainability in areas where it is deployed.

“We are particularly interested in evaluating charging as a part of the pilot project,” said Mark Roper, Director of the Economic Development Division within the New Mexico Economic Development Department. “Range, charging rates and grid resiliency are critical components of switching to all-electric, zero-emission vehicles.”

GreenPower is partnering with Highland Electric Fleets to install and implement the charging infrastructure necessary for the pilot.

Source: GreenPower Motor Compny, Inc.

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