SOUTH CHARLESTON — U.S. Sen.
Shelley Moore Capito was driving the bus in more ways than one Thursday during a site visit to the GreenPower Motor Company in South Charleston, one day before National Manufacturing Day. Capito, R-W.Va.
, took the wheel of the Beast, a model of electric school bus manufactured at the South Charleston plant. “I can tell you I’ve always wondered how people drive large trucks or school buses and fire engines, and honestly, it was the smoothest driving thing I’ve ever seen,” Capito said, after driving the bus and delivering its passengers safely back to the GreenPower plant. “It was very impressive.
It’s nice to know it’s being built here, too.” The keys to this bus were handed to officials with Wyoming County Schools, which had already been testing GreenPower’s smaller bus, the NanoBeast, on routes near Pineville. School officials reported no issues with the bus, where it is picking up students in one of the more rural and mountainous parts of the state.
GreenPower manufactures the NanoBeast, the Beast and MegaBeast at its facility along I-64. The NanoBeast has a range of 140 miles and seating for 24. The Beast can seat up to 90 passengers with a similar range, including better storage capabilities.
The MegaBeast doubles the range of the Beast and NanoBeast at 300 miles, with better uphill climbing power and the ability to generate electricity back into the power grid. These electric buses have the potential to save school systems.