NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — Adomani Inc., a supplier of electric and hybrid vehicle solutions, announced on Wednesday that it received an order for three electric school buses, totaling over $1.1 million.  

Adomani’s new vehicle distribution-focused subsidiary, School Bus Sales of California Inc., received the three-unit purchase order from Calaveras Unified School District (USD) for its first zero-emission electric 72-seat school buses.

Through a partnership with Sen. Mike McGuire and the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District was asked to administer the Rural School Bus Pilot Project for the state of California. The main goal of this grant program is accelerating the turnover of California school bus fleets to lower carbon transportation options, especially in rural school districts that have had less access to other funding sources.

Calaveras County has four school districts with an approximate total of 5,800 students. Calaveras USD is the largest of the four school districts with about 2,700 of those students. The district has a fleet of approximately 40 buses in a rural area that runs in the foothills of the High Sierras in California. This terrain and climate will serve as a proving ground for the electric school buses. Delivery of the GreenPower Synapse 72 all-electric Type D buses is expected on or before June 2018, said Jim Reynolds, president and CEO of Adomani.

''This first zero-emission electric school bus order from Calaveras USD is an exciting milestone and demonstrates the clear focus on an air-quality commitment that we all know benefits students, bus drivers, and the surrounding communities,'' said John Roselli, vice president of Adomani. ''While their current school bus fleet is composed of traditionally fueled, above average age buses, this order marks a bold, early adopter move towards modern, zero-emission electric transportation technology.”

As previously reported, six school districts in California committed to buying a total of 11 GreenPower electric school buses in August.