Electric bus pilot project in New Mexico by GreenPower set to launch
GreenPower Motor Company Inc., a leading manufacturer of electric commercial vehicles, has signed a contract with the state of New Mexico to launch an electric school bus pilot project. The project, set to deploy six GreenPower school buses over two years, will focus on evaluating charging systems and grid resiliency.
The 2025-2026 school year will see the deployment of three GreenPower Type A Nano BEAST Access school buses, with an additional three Type D BEAST and Mega BEAST buses to follow in the 2026-2027 school year. The school buses will rotate around the state in five six-week pilot rounds each school year, with the cities of Albuquerque, Gallup, and Las Cruces participating.
The specific charging systems to be installed in the New Mexico project are yet to be detailed. However, it is known that the pilot will include DC fast chargers and Level 2 AC chargers. GreenPower will be responsible for installing charging systems, providing training for drivers, mechanics, and first responders, and ensuring a seamless testing period.
Brendan Riley, President of GreenPower, emphasizes the project's focus on charging evaluation. He states, "We are excited to partner with the state of New Mexico to evaluate the charging options and infrastructure for electric school buses. This project builds upon the success of our previous pilot in West Virginia."
The New Mexico Economic Development Department recognizes the importance of charging in the transition to electric vehicles. Mark Roper, Director of the Economic Development Division within the department, expresses interest in the charging aspect of the pilot project, stating, "We are looking forward to working with GreenPower to evaluate the charging systems and their impact on grid resiliency."
The New Mexico electric school bus pilot project aims to provide valuable insights into DC fast charging and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology. This focus on evaluation will continue in the second year of the project.
GreenPower has partnered with Highland Electric Fleets for the installation and implementation of charging infrastructure. However, the partners for the charging infrastructure installation and implementation in the New Mexico project are not yet specified in this paragraph.
The contract provides more than $5 million for the purchase of vehicles, charging infrastructure, and pilot management. School districts are being selected to participate in the pilot based on voluntary requests.
The Mega BEAST school bus, one of the buses to be deployed in the 2026-2027 school year, boasts a range of up to 300 miles from its 387 kWh battery pack. This makes it an ideal choice for New Mexico's expansive geography.
The success of this pilot project could pave the way for wider adoption of electric school buses in New Mexico, contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable future for the state's schools and communities.
