MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Three new West Virginia-made electric school buses and the charging infrastructure will be unveiled in Morgantown Wednesday.
Monongalia County Schools will add three Green Power Motor “BEAST” buses to their fleet. Green Power Motor plans to have their buses in almost every county of the state following a purchase approved by the state legislature and an EPA grant program that’s winding down.
“There will be 98 Green Power Motor buses on the road when both of those projects are completed,” Vice President of Business Development and Strategy Mark Nestlen said on WAJR’s Talk of the Town. “So, there will be a significant number on the roads, and all built by the good workers of West Virginia.”
Nestle said There is a growing trend of parents who want their children on electric buses. Diesel technology is proven to have emissions that can be harmful, leading more parents to prefer an electric option.
“Parents want to see their kids in electric vehicles, and that’s because of the health benefits and the changes in learning ability of students who get to school ready to learn and not tired due to the noxious emissions created when kids are on the bus for as long as an hour,” Nestlen said.
The buses built in South Charleston are purpose-built, meaning the chassis, drivetrain, and suspension are made for the weight and unique characteristics of an electric application. Nestlen said the buses currently on the road are performing better than originally thought, and because of that they are extending the warranty agreements for the batteries.
“We’ve changed our warranties and extended the warranties on the batteries,” Nestlen said. “Because we’re seeing that with the chemistry of the lithium-ion phosphate that you’re getting better performance, longer life, and longer life cycles than people might have thought.”
The buses have a range of 150 miles that can vary based on the conditions, temperature, and accessories. The school district is working with Nestlen to develop ways to extend the range, like pre-warming the buses to save battery power.
“Make it so the buses can heat up before they leave the bus garage in the morning,” Nestlen said. “So, that helps save your range because they’re still plugged in while you’re heating the cabin—once the cabin is warm, it’s easier to keep warm than it is to get warm.”
According to Nestlen, not only do parents want their children on an emission-free bus, but school buses are an ideal application for electric technology. The predictability of the route system allows the buses to charge on a regular schedule, increasing reliability.
“They are because they are on a set schedule; the buses run at the same time every day, the buses run the same routes every day, and you know how many miles they’re going to go.”
The ceremony will be at the Monongalia County Schools Transportation Department at Mylan Park at 11 a.m.