SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

California District Orders 6 GreenPower Electric School Buses

The buses for Thermalito Union Elementary School District can reportedly travel up to 150 miles with a 194.5kWh battery pack.

by SBF Staff
November 16, 2020
California District Orders 6 GreenPower Electric School Buses

Thermalito Union Elementary School District purchased a total of six GreenPower electric school buses through Creative Bus Sales.

Photo courtesy GreenPower Motor Co.

2 min to read


Oroville, Calif.-based Thermalito Union Elementary School District will soon add six GreenPower electric school buses to its fleet.

The buses, also known as B.E.A.S.T., were purchased through GreenPower’s national distributor Creative Bus Sales, according to a news release from the electric bus manufacturer.

Ad Loading...

The B.E.A.S.T. is a Type D electric school bus with a range of up to 150 miles and a 194.5kWh battery pack, according to GreenPower. The vehicles can reportedly charge up to 20kW on standard J1772 protocol and has CCS1 fast charging, with additional standard features such as air ride suspension, pass through storage, and air disk brakes. The B.E.A.S.T. also offers a monocoque chassis design.

“The sale of six units to the Thermalito Union School District is a great example of how GreenPower is working with customers and our sales partners to leverage multiple incentive programs to bring our all-electric school bus to market,” said Brendan Riley, president of GreenPower. “This is a trend we expect to accelerate within California, [and] then spread to other states as a template.”

Butte County Air Quality Management District will fund the purchase of one of the electric school buses through its clean vehicle incentive program, which offers grants to aid in the reduction of emissions and the impact of air quality, according to GreenPower.

The five remaining electric buses will be funded through the California Clean Energy Jobs Act Prop 39, which has awarded more than $1.7 billion to schools over the last five years to plan and install energy efficiency upgrades, clean energy generation measures, and zero emissions transportation, according to GreenPower.

Ryne Shetterly, GreenPower's vice president of sales and marketing, added that “Creative Bus Sales has worked hard with GreenPower to bring together demonstrations to school districts,” and that the two will continue to partner and “push deals forward.”

More Alternative Fuels

Graphic announcing the EPA's proposed 2027 heavy-duty engine rule changes, featuring an open school bus engine compartment in the background with the EPA logo and the headline, "The EPA's 2027 Proposal Is Here. What's Changing?" alongside School Bus Fleet branding.
Alternative Fuelsby StaffJuly 11, 2026

EPA Unveils Proposed Changes to 2027 Heavy-Duty Engine Rules

The federal agency has proposed changes to next year’s targets that would eliminate DEF derates, ease warranty requirements, and retain current NOx emissions standards.

Read More →
An orange and yellow graphic with a black and white image of an InCharge Energy technician working and text reading "EV Charging & Infrastructure Gains."
Alternative Fuelsby Elora HaynesJuly 10, 2026

Alt-Fuel Moves: EV Charging & Infrastructure Projects Gain Momentum

The latest developments include new funding, charging infrastructure, utility investments, and fleet technologies designed to support the transition to electric school buses nationwide.

Read More →
An orange and yellow graphic with a black and white image of the back end of an electric bus next to charging infrastructure and text reading "Alt-Fuel Moves: Fleets Power Up Beyond the Bus."
Alternative Fuelsby Elora HaynesJune 12, 2026

Alt-Fuel Moves: Fleets Power Up Beyond the Bus

See how districts are pairing electric buses with charging, solar, and V2G technology to cut costs, boost resilience, and unlock new fleet value.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic showing a winding road and directional signpost labeled “electric,” “propane,” “biofuels,” and “natural gas” beneath the headline “Where Is EPA Funding Headed?” with School Bus Fleet logo.
Alternative FuelsJune 11, 2026

What the EPA’s Updated Clean School Bus Program Means for Fleet Electrification in 2026 and Beyond

A guide to the EPA’s evolving school bus grants, including how the Trump administration changed funding priorities and how school districts can prepare for future bus purchases.

Read More →
Billy Murphy of Power Innovations International speaks at ACT Expo in front of a display featuring EV charging equipment and a Blue Bird school bus graphic. A text overlay reads “Simplified EV Charging.”
Alternative Fuelsby Amanda HuggettJune 3, 2026

A Solution Helping School Buses Charge Without Major Infrastructure Upgrades

Power Innovations International dishes on its EV charging technology designed to reduce infrastructure barriers, improve reliability, and support V2G applications for school bus fleets.

Read More →
Promotional graphic announcing New Eagle's OpenECU platform. A blue electronic control unit (ECU) is featured against an orange background with EV charging stations and charging cables. The image includes the New Eagle and OpenECU logos, a "New Product" label, and School Bus Fleet branding.
Alternative FuelsJune 2, 2026

New Eagle Launches All-in-One EV Control Platform

The new OpenECU NX3 platform integrates charging and vehicle controls into a single platform, with support for megawatt charging and vehicle-to-grid technologies.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Children board a yellow electric school bus from Central Consolidated School District during snowfall, as an adult assists students at the bus entrance.

GreenPower Unveils New Heating Solution for Type A Bus

The all-electric bus manufacturer's new product aims to eliminate cold-cabin issues on its Nano BEAST zero-emission school buses operating in cold climates.

Read More →
An orange and yellow graphic with a black and white image of an electric bus charger and text reading "Alt-Fuel Moves: Fleets Plug In For the Long Haul."
Alternative Fuelsby Elora HaynesMay 22, 2026

Alt-Fuel Moves: Fleets Plug In for the Long Haul

School districts across the U.S. are moving electric school bus plans into operation, with new fleet deployments, charging infrastructure, and long-term electrification partnerships taking shape.

Read More →
Thumbnail graphic for a School Bus Fleet interview at ACT Expo featuring a smiling BetterFleet executive seated in front of a fleet technology booth display. Overlay text reads “BetterFleet” and “The G Problem in V2G.”
Alternative Fuelsby Amanda HuggettMay 22, 2026

The Achilles Heel of School Bus Electrification: BetterFleet’s Take

BetterFleet’s managing partner discusses AI-powered EV fleet management, vehicle-to-grid challenges, and the real challenges in bus electrification today, from ACT Expo.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A red, black, and white graphic with text reading "The Fuel Decision is Yours."
Alternative FuelsMay 20, 2026

You're On Your Own to Pick a Drivetrain [Op-Ed]

After years of federal pressure toward electric school buses, districts are suddenly being told to choose their own path. Let’s explore the risks, realities, and politics behind school bus drivetrain decisions.

Read More →