GreenPower Motor Company is beginning the second year of New Mexico’s two-year electric school bus pilot. The original pilot was designed in part to evaluate the viability and reliability of charging under varying real-world conditions.

The next phase follows three GreenPower Type A Nano BEAST electric school buses that traveled more than 17,000 miles during the 2025-26 school year, rotating among nine New Mexico school districts. According to GreenPower, the buses met the range requirements encountered during the pilot, including one traveling as far as 132 miles on a single charge.

For the 2026-27 school year, the pilot’s second phase, GreenPower is deploying its 40-ft. Type D BEAST electric school bus.

Two BEAST buses will rotate among districts across New Mexico, while a third vehicle will spend the school year in West Las Vegas for the vehicle-to-grid portion of the pilot.

The BEAST can carry up to 84 students and supports Level 2 charging at rates up to 19.2 kW and DC fast charging at rates up to 85 kW. GreenPower said the latter can provide a full charge in less than three hours. The model also received New Mexico certification ahead of its year-two deployment.

"We were pleased that the BEAST passed inspection requirements in New Mexico just as the Nano BEAST did last year prior to the deployment of those vehicles,” said GreenPower President Brendan Riley. “Both the Type A Nano BEAST and Type D BEAST school buses are now certified compliant in New Mexico and are available for any deployments.”

Charging Infrastructure and Vehicle Changes Emerge as Key Lessons

While vehicle range met the operational requirements encountered during the first year, the pilot also exposed infrastructure challenges.

GreenPower identified available electrical capacity, particularly in rural parts of New Mexico, as the biggest issue encountered during deployment. The company said some schools will require electrical upgrades to support a long-term transition to electric buses.

That finding illustrates an important consideration for commercial fleet electrification: vehicle capability is only one piece of the transition. Available utility capacity and the time and cost required for electrical upgrades can ultimately determine how and where EVs can be deployed.

Charging infrastructure has been central to the New Mexico project since its inception. The pilot includes Level 2 and DC fast charging and was designed to collect data on factors including range, charging requirements, vehicle performance, and operating and maintenance savings.

The pilot has also resulted in changes to GreenPower's vehicles, with operator feedback identifying challenges maintaining cabin heat and charging early in the morning. GreenPower subsequently developed a cold-weather package incorporating additional electric cabin heaters and heated battery packs, which the company said is now standard on the Nano BEAST.

The system remains fully electric rather than relying on a fuel-fired auxiliary heater, allowing the vehicle to maintain its zero-emission configuration.

From Pilot to Broader Fleet Electrification?

New Mexico backed the two-year program with a $5 million capital appropriation covering electric buses, charging infrastructure and other pilot costs. The original agreement also called for the state to seek another $15 million for additional buses after successfully completing the two phases.

The agreement could have implications beyond school transportation. In October 2025, School Bus Fleet reported that New Mexico and GreenPower also outlined plans to explore expansion of all-electric commercial fleets within the state's Department of Transportation and General Services Department.

For fleet operators considering electrification, New Mexico's pilot offers a real-world example of how vehicle range, charging capacity, utility infrastructure, climate, and bidirectional charging can be evaluated before EVs are deployed at greater scale.