GreenPower Motor Co. employees work on a Mega BEAST electric bus bound for Wyoming County Schools on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, at the company’s factory in South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä.
GreenPower Motor Co. in South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä is working on West Virginia’s first Mega BEAST all-electric school bus.
Brendan Riley from GreenPower Motor Company talks about partnerships within South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä and the next round of hiring in September. Â
Ethan Young | HD Media
GreenPower’s Mega BEAST is a 40-foot Type D all-electric, purpose-built, zero-emission school bus that delivers a class-leading range of up to 300 miles on a single charge via a 387 kWh battery pack.
“Before now, there was not a vehicle on the market that offered these longer-range capabilities.†GreenPower President Brendan Riley said during a tour Monday of the South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä plant.
GreenPower Motor Co. employees work on a Mega BEAST electric bus bound for Wyoming County Schools on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, at the company’s factory in South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä.
Gazette-Mail photos
Mega BEAST bus has more range
Riley said the newest version of GreenPower’s all-electric Type D school bus provides double the range with the same functionality as GreenPower’s BEAST all-electric school bus that is deployed in school bus fleets across the country.
GreenPower President Brendan Riley speaks about the safety of the batteries used in the company’s electric buses on Monday.
KENNY KEMP | Gazette-Mail
“It sets a new benchmark in the industry by addressing the needs and filling the gap in the current market where longer range all-electric school buses are required, like West Virginia,†he said. “All-in-all, the Mega BEAST is the same class-leading vehicle as the BEAST just with a bigger battery, more range and more uphill climbing power.â€
Riley said the Mega BEAST provides for the longest range and has the biggest battery pack in the school bus market.
“The Mega BEAST can seat up to 90 passengers with standard features that include air ride suspension, ABS disc brakes and largest pass-through storage available,†he explained during the tour. “It features a strong chassis and is the safest, most durable and reliable all-electric school bus available today. Its seamlessly integrated aluminum body and chassis design forms a composite structure.â€
GreenPower’s Mega BEAST bus frame holds six batteries for the full-size electric school buses.
KENNY KEMP | Gazette-Mail
Mark Nestlen, vice president of business development and strategy for GreenPower, said this first purpose-built Mega BEAST is expected to be delivered to Monongalia County Schools by the end of the year.
“The Mega BEAST is designed to provide the answer for longer range routes and other desired uses by a school district,†Nestlen said. He explained the bus is well-suited for rural school districts with longer routes, and “school districts with less chance for mid-day opportunity charging, school districts that face extreme weather conditions.â€
Riley added the extended range of the new model will help more school districts make the switch from nitrogen dioxide-emitting diesel buses.
“GreenPower’s all-electric, zero-emission option provides a safer, cleaner and healthier ride for school kids,†he said.
Riley also noted that the larger battery size of the Mega BEAST is desirable for V2G applications where there is a need to use the battery as energy storage and not just for transportation purposes.
GreenPower Motor Co. employees work on a Mega BEAST electric bus bound for Wyoming County Schools on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, at the company’s factory in South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä.
GreenPower Motor Company Mega BEAST model electric bus in the early stages of production Monday Aug. 26, 2024 at the company's factory in South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä.
Riley said as far as fires on EV school buses and other safety issues, there is some misinformation being spread as fact.
“According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there have been zero EV school bus fires since they started hitting the roads in 2013,†Riley said. “Compare that to diesel buses.â€
A search of the NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System data shows there were five electric-only buses involved in fatal traffic crashes from 2013-2022. None were school buses, and none had a fire occurrence during the crash. There were 98 hybrid buses (none of which were school buses) involved in fatal traffic crashes from 2013-2022, and none had a fire occurrence during the crash.
The data also showed there were 772 public transit buses involved in fatal traffic crashes from 2013-2022, and 14 had a fire occurrence during the crash. However, none of those were all-electric or hybrid buses.
“We had no electric school buses involved in fatal traffic crashes during those years,†NHTSA said in an email seeking comment regarding the data related to all-electric school bus fires and crashes.
GreenPower Motor Co. Mega BEAST electric buses are put together on Aug. 26, 2024, at the company's factory in South ÂÒÂ×ÄÚÉä.
Gazette-Mail file photo
Next for GreenPower buses
The Mega BEAST joins GreenPower’s line-up of all-electric, purpose-built, zero-emission school buses, including the Type D BEAST and the Type A Nano BEAST.
“West Virginia has purchased 97 buses so far,†Nestlen said. “Several Type D BEAST models, 12 Type A Nano BEAST models and now one Mega BEAST.â€
By next summer, Kanawha County Schools will have 26 Beast buses from GreenPower, Nestlen said.
