Touring GreenPower Motor Company on Thursday gave Senator Shelley Moore Capito an inside look on how many steps and individuals it takes to build the companies school buses.

GreenPower Motor Company is a local manufacturer of electric school buses. They are producing four different types of electric buses, these include the Beast, Mega Beast, Nano Beast and the Nano Beast with wheelchair access. These four different styles were able to pass all of the safety tests that they were put under according to Mark Nestlen, Vice President of business deployment and strategy.

Nestlen also noted that the battery that they use hasn’t had any issues.

“Our battery chemistry is LFP, which is lithium-ion phosphate. This is the most stable and safest chemistry for batteries on the market today. There are no toxins, there’s no heavy metals, and these batteries do not create any problems when you’re through with them. They are not a hazard of any kind,” Nestlen said.

He even said that, if something were to go wrong, the bus drivers will get alerts and they will be able to get students, if there on the bus, out safely and in a timely manner.

Nestlen also said that the bus that they were giving to Wyoming County Schools is one of 70, that will be given out to West Virginia schools.

And Capito said that it’s incredible GreenPower is able to build these buses locally.

“Well, I’m just amazed that GreenPower Motors here in South Charleston is building electric school buses. The one we just rode in was called the Beast and it’s going to carry 90, very safely carry 90 children,” Capito said.

She was given the opportunity to drive the Beast after touring the facility and she said that it was amazing to see the buses get built but another to actually drive one of them.

“It’s really impressive, I can tell you. I’ve always wondered how people drive large trucks, or school buses and fire engines and honestly it was the smoothest driving thing I’ve ever seen,” Capito said. “Very manageable, tight turning distance, great vision out the front. Very impressive.”

She was also very impressed with the opportunity that GreenPower is giving people when it comes to jobs, because right now at the company in South Charleston, they have about 80 workers, but they want to be able to acquire at least 200 workers. They have been able to partner with BridgeValley Community and Technical College to offer students a chance to learn the skills at GreenPower.

“Well, I think creating and keeping manufacturing jobs here in the United States is essentially important. I think that we are known, as West Virginians, as manufacturers as having the workforce to provide good, solid skills,” Capito said.

Capito was also at the facility to present the keys to the new Beast school bus to John Henry, Wyoming County Schools Superintendent Dr. John Henry.

And Henry said that the opportunity that they have had to acquire two buses, the Beast and the Nano Beast with wheelchair access, has been amazing and that this could not have happened without a grant they received through the Department of Education.

“We were able to partner with the Department of Education, WV Department of Education and receive a grant. So, this bus came to us at no cost,” Henry said. “What that allows us to do is to be able to grow our fleet of buses in Wyoming County at zero cost. So, it’s really the best deal we possibly could receive.”

While Wyoming County is getting this new bus, Henry said that the experience with the Nano Beast access has been incredible so far.

“It’s been great so far. Our Nano Beast has the ability to transport students with wheelchairs. We have several students that are in the close by attendance district to our schools and it’s been really nice for our students with disabilities,” Henry said.

And the students have welcomed the new electric bus with open arms.

“From our student standpoint, I think they’ve embraced it really well. It’s something new and kids like to see some new things,” Henry said.

He also said that the parents have also warmed up to the idea of the electric bus, and that they weren’t trying to replace all of the gas-powered buses, but they are trying to implement something new and cost effective in Wyoming County.