GreenPower Motor Company has completed manufacturing of its first four all-electric, purpose-built school buses at its West Virginia facility.
The Type A Nano BEAST school buses will roll out of the facility today and be delivered to Cabell County, Clay County, Kanawha County and Monongalia County school districts in West Virginia this week.
"Today marks a significant achievement for all-electric, purpose-built school bus production in the United States," says GreenPower CEO Fraser Atkinson. "Less than 24 months ago GreenPower joined Governor Jim Justice in announcing our plans to manufacture school buses here in West Virginia to meet the demand for zero-emission school buses on the East Coast. Those plans have come to fruition with the manufacturing of the first four Nano BEAST school buses being completed at the South Charleston facility."
GreenPower took possession of the 80,000 sq.ft., facility in August of 2022 and since that time has prepared for the production of both the Type A Nano BEAST and the Type D BEAST all-electric, purpose-built school buses. The Nano BEAST has been in production since June and production of the BEAST will begin Q1 of 2024, the company says.
"Setting up a new manufacturing facility for the production of all-electric, purpose-built school buses is not an easy task," says GreenPower President Brendan Riley. "I am proud of the GreenPower team for reaching this milestone in the progression of our company. A local workforce being trained and educated by both GreenPower's senior production staff and BridgeValley Community and Technical College has led us to the production of these first buses and will be the foundation for our long-term manufacturing presence here in the Mountain State."
Atkinson notes the completion of the first GreenPower all-electric school buses is as a result of an economic partnership with the state of West Virginia.
"The state has played a critical role in reaching today's rollout. From securing the manufacturing facility to the purchase of $15 million in GreenPower school buses, West Virginia has been the kind of partner that helps a company achieve its startup production and financial goals," he says.
"West Virginia is in a period of prosperity and growth, and we are fortunate to have GreenPower leading the way in our new energy and technology economy. I, for one, am honored GreenPower selected West Virginia for its eastern US all-electric school bus production facility and look forward to the growth and future success of the company in our state," adds Delegate Roger Hanshaw, Speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates. "My goal is that today is only the beginning of what future GreenPower production and employment opportunities will look like in West Virginia."
