REEDLEY, Calif. — John Clements, who retired as director of transportation from Kings Canyon Unified School District last year, has stayed busy in his retirement: He joined Motiv Power Systems this week as an advisor.

Clements told SBF that in the part-time role, he will offer school bus industry advice and general operations knowledge to Motiv, test drive electric buses for the company’s technicians, showcase the electric buses at trade shows, and provide outreach to potential customers interested in electric school buses and shuttles. He said he will also seek out new clean air grant demonstration opportunities to promote alternative-fuel school buses.  

As SBF has previously reported, Motiv Power Systems partnered with Type A school bus manufacturer Trans Tech Bus to develop the all-electric SSTe school bus, which was unveiled during last fall’s National Association for Pupil Transportation Summit in Grand Rapids, Mich.

The bus has since passed certification in California and is in service at Kings Canyon Unified School District.

In our forthcoming June issue, Jason Flores, the district’s new director of transportation, told SBF that a second SSTe is scheduled to be delivered to the district this month, with two more set for delivery later this year.

Flores also said that Clements was instrumental in getting grants for the district to obtain the four SSTe school buses.