Pilot project to test all-electric school
buses in school transportation operations across the state
CHARLESTON, W.Va., June 2, 2022
/CNW/ -- GreenPower Motor Company Inc. (NASDAQ: GP) (TSXV:
GPV) ("GreenPower"), a leading manufacturer and distributor of
zero-emission, electric-powered, medium and heavy-duty vehicles,
today announced the company's timeline to begin manufacturing
zero-emission, all-electric school buses in its newly-acquired
facility in South Charleston, West
Virginia.
"GreenPower will take possession of the West Virginia manufacturing facility in August
and production will begin in September," said Fraser Atkinson, CEO and Chairman of the Board
of GreenPower. "The facility will be instrumental in ramping up
production of our all-electric school buses, the BEAST and Nano
BEAST, in time to meet the demand created by EPA's Clean School Bus
Program and state legislative mandates."
In January, GreenPower and Gov. Jim
Justice announced plans for GreenPower to produce
zero-emission, all-electric vehicles in West Virginia. Since then, efforts have been
underway to begin manufacturing with buses rolling off the line by
the third quarter of this fiscal year.
"Our West Virginia operations will serve as a cornerstone for
U.S. manufacturing to deliver electric school buses to our
customers on the East Coast and adjacent regions," said
Brendan Riley, President and
Director of GreenPower. "Gov. Justice, members of his cabinet and
staff, state legislators, city officials and educators at
BridgeValley have all worked tirelessly to ensure we are up and
running by late summer."
During a Capitol press briefing today, Gov. Justice directed his
Secretary of Economic Development Mitch
Carmichael to work with GreenPower to develop a pilot
project that will demonstrate GreenPower's all-electric school
buses in school districts across the state of West Virginia. The goal of the pilot project
will be to provide real-world testing of the vehicles in all areas
of the state, both rural and urban, so that school districts have a
better feel for the operations of the buses, including the needs
and requirements of the charging infrastructure.
GreenPower's production announcement and pilot project come at a
time when the federal government is offering new funding under the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to assist school districts with
the purchase of all-electric school buses. The Environmental
Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean School Bus Program Funding will
provide for up to $375,000 for the
larger Type D school buses (The BEAST) and up to $285,000 for the smaller Type A school buses
(Nano BEAST). The EPA is also providing funding of up to
$20,000 per bus for charging
infrastructure for Level 2 charging systems.
The West Virginia state legislature
this year also increased the incentive for West Virginia school districts to deploy
electric school buses made in the state. HB 4571, which was passed
by the legislature and signed into law by the Governor, increased
the School Foundation Allowance by 10% for using an electric school
bus and an additional 5% for the portion of buses manufactured in
West Virginia.
"GreenPower is excited to begin this next chapter of the
company's production in West
Virginia. Increasing our supply of purpose-built,
zero-emission, all-electric school buses to meet the demand of
school districts and parents up and down the eastern seaboard
through this facility meets the goals set forth when reaching
expansion agreements with the state," concluded Atkinson.
Media and Investor Contacts:
Brendan Riley
GreenPower President
(510) 910-3377
Mike Cole
Investor Relations
(949) 444-1341
Allie Potter
Skyya PR for GreenPower
(218) 766-8856
allie@skyya.com
About GreenPower Motor
Company
GreenPower designs, builds and distributes a full suite of
high-floor and low-floor all-electric medium and heavy-duty
vehicles, including transit buses, school buses, shuttles, cargo
van, and a cab and chassis. GreenPower employs a clean-sheet design
to manufacture all-electric vehicles that are purpose built to be
battery powered with zero emissions while integrating global
suppliers for key components. This OEM platform allows GreenPower
to meet the specifications of various operators while providing
standard parts for ease of maintenance and accessibility for
warranty requirements. GreenPower was founded in Vancouver, Canada with primary operational
facilities in southern California.
Listed on the Toronto exchange
since November 2015, GreenPower
completed its U.S. IPO and NASDAQ listing in August 2020. For further information go to
www.greenpowermotor.com
Forward-Looking
Statements
This document contains forward-looking statements relating to,
among other things, GreenPower's business and operations and the
environment in which it operates, which are based on GreenPower's
operations, estimates, forecasts, and projections. Forward-looking
statements are not based on historical facts, but rather on current
expectations and projections about future events, and are therefore
subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results
to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied
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of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are
difficult to predict or are beyond GreenPower's control. A number
of important factors, including those set forth in other public
filings (filed under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com), could
cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those
expressed in these forward-looking statements. Consequently,
readers should not place any undue reliance on such forward-looking
statements. In addition, these forward-looking statements relate to
the date on which they are made. GreenPower disclaims any intention
or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements
whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release. © 2022 GreenPower Motor Company Inc. All
rights reserved.
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SOURCE GreenPower Motor Company