BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA (By Steve Stewart, Energy Analytics Institute, 4.Aug.2025) — GreenPower Motor Company Inc. signed a contract with the state of New Mexico to implement an all-electric school bus pilot project.
The contract between GreenPower and the state of New Mexico provides over $5mn 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.
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The contract is the result of an award made by the state under an RFP published in May 2025.
The 2-year pilot project will deploy 3 GreenPower Type A all-electric, purpose-built, zero-emission Nano BEAST Access school buses in the first school year (2025-26), and 3 GreenPower Type D all-electric, purpose-built, zero-emission BEAST and Mega BEAST school buses in the second school year (2026-27), GreenPower announced on 4 Aug. 2025 in an official statement.
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The school buses will rotate around the state in 5 pilot rounds each school year with each round lasting 6 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, the company said.
Based on voluntary requests to participate, school districts are currently being selected by the state to participate in the pilot. The manufacturing of the 3 Nano BEAST Access school buses is substantially complete and they will be ready for deployment for Round 1 the week of 15 Sep.
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Fast chargers
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 (V2G) evaluation using the GreenPower Mega BEAST. The 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 because of its massive 387 kWh battery pack.
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The range of the Mega BEAST is greater than any electric school bus in its class. It has more uphill climbing power and the most compelling and cost effective V2G capability for a more stable electric grid and community sustainability in areas where it is deployed.
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By Steve Stewart reporting from Baton Rouge. © 2025 Energy Analytics Institute (EAI). All Rights Reserved.
