GreenPower Motor Co. has delivered its first all-electric Type D BEAST school bus to the state of Arizona, where it will serve the Phoenix Elementary School District.

"We are pleased that the Phoenix Elementary School District has selected a GreenPower purpose-built school bus to help the school district transition its fleet to safe, sustainable, and sensible all-electric student transportation," said GreenPower President Brendan Riley. "The demand for all-electric school buses remains high and we are proud to deploy the first BEAST in Arizona here in Phoenix."

GreenPower's BEAST is a purpose-built, 40-foot Type D all-electric, zero-emission school bus. Designed from the ground up, it is a unified structure that features an integrated aluminum body made from extruded aluminum manufactured by Constellium on a high strength steel Truss (bus) chassis. The complete flat floor design allows for tracking with no obstacles, and the high floors keep students out of the crash zone. The dual port charging is standard, with Level 2 rates up to 19.2 kW and DC fast-charging rates up to 85 kW. Wireless charging is also available as an option.

Phoenix Elementary School District No. 1 operates 15 schools offering a preschool through eighth grade education in the heart of Phoenix. Serving approximately 5,000 students, the school district has a diverse student population speaking 20 different languages.

"Phoenix Elementary School District is excited to deploy the GreenPower BEAST, to further our commitment toward safe and sustainable transportation," said Dr. Deborah Gonzalez, superintendent of Phoenix Elementary School District. "Children are more susceptible to air pollution due to their developing respiratory systems and all-electric school buses reduce exposure to NOx produced by traditional buses which can adversely affect student's health and academic performance. We are grateful to our community for passing bonds that allow us to invest in fostering a cleaner environment for our students, drivers and community."

Phoenix Elementary School District purchased the BEAST through GreenPower's authorized school bus dealer RWC Group (RWC). "When it comes to providing safe and reliable transportation to students, a school bus is an essential investment, and an all-electric school bus has the capability to take safety and reliability a step further," said Tom Hartman, General Manager of the Bus Division at RWC.