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GreenPower’s ‘BEAST’ School Bus Starts Routes in Ohio County

By JOSELYN KING 5 min read

WHEELING - The wheels on the new futuristic school bus go "round and round" with the help of electricity, and it will pick up Ohio County students starting today as part of a testing project.

The "BEAST" - which stands for "Battery Electric Assisted Student Transportation - arrived at the Ohio County Schools Transportation Garage on Wednesday morning. By the afternoon, school officials had the chance to examine and ride the bus, which is being manufactured by the GreenPower Co. in South Charleston.

Ohio County Schools has been selected to participate in the current pilot testing of the GreenPower BEAST largely because of its hilly terrain and the upcoming colder temperatures, explained Mark Nestlen, vice president for development and strategy for the GreenPower Co.

That testing begins today and takes place through Dec 23 in Ohio County.

"Welcome to the beginning of your green new school day," Nestlen told those present. "We are so excited to be in Ohio County, and take this next step forward in getting real-life, real-time data with the real-life weather conditions and terrain we see in West Virginia."

Past testing was done in flatter locations in warmer weather, he noted. Other counties presently taking part in GreenPower's pilot program are Clay, Grant and Monongalia counties.

"I stress this is not just something that is important to Ohio County and to West Virginia," Nestlen continued. "The nation is watching what is happening here in Wheeling, West Virginia, and what is happening in West Virginia because the country wants to know."

Each week, the BEAST will be scheduled for a different driver and routes representing a different set of challenges found in Ohio County, explained David Crumm, director of operations for Ohio County Schools.

The first route traveled in Ohio County by the BEAST will be one starting in Windsor Heights, going from Short Creek to West Liberty, then to Wheeling Park High School before making its way back to the Warwood School.

The bus was brought to Wheeling from South Charleston by trailer. And yes, the company brought along its charger.

The BEAST is constructed of an all-Constellian aluminum body.

Ohio County Board of Education President Andy Garber and board members Molly Aderholt and Grace Norton were quick to jump on the bus and take a look at its amenities.

"It's amazing," Norton said. "I think its back end is in Brooke County."

At first glance, the BEAST is physically larger than a typical school bus. It stands taller and is wider than traditional school buses.

It also holds more passengers. It can hold up to 90 students, but is presently configured to carry 80 passengers, Nestlen explained. Standard buses can transport about 77 students, he said.

The cost of the BEAST is about $375,000, compared to $130,000 for a standard gasoline-powered bus. The electric bus, however, has no fuel cost, but it does need to be charged on a daily basis.

"You can't take it on a trip," explained Chris Koehler, mechanic with Ohio County Schools. "Its range is only about 130 miles - and that's without using any heat or air conditioning. If you do, that brings it down to about 80 miles."

It takes about three to four hours to charge a bus with its standard charger, but the time can be shortened to about two hours with an express charger, the mechanics said.

Crumm noted only one bus at a time per charger can receive electricity. If the school district were to purchase a fleet of buses, additional chargers would need to be purchased, with American Electric Power being consulted about any needed infrastructure. Any costs would have to be determined.

The BEAST has six rechargeable batteries that are expected to last at least eight years. Nestlen said the cost to replace those batteries in the future also is unknown as technology further develops.

Because the BEAST is electric-powered, it has no sound when it is traveling. Its designers realized this could be a safety issue, especially for young children at bus stops who might not hear the bus coming near them.

When the BEAST is moving at less than 15 miles per hour, a trolley bell sounds. The electric bus had no issues at all climbing Wheeling Hill on Wednesday during its demonstration for school officials.

"As far as power, this bus has no problem whatsoever," said driver Randy McCardle.

Mechanics and drivers at the garage were impressed by the BEAST's technology, but they questioned whether its use in Ohio County would be feasible over the long term.

"It has its place, but not in our little community," Koehler said.

Delegate Erikka Storch, R-Ohio, said the Beast is far different and "much nicer" from the bus she rode as a youth from "the depths of Clearview up to Wheeling Park High School" each school day.

"I'm sure my sleeping (on the bus) would have improved greatly," she said.

Storch added it is very exciting for Ohio County to be participating in the project, and that companies like GreenPower were looking to West Virginia to build their company.

"I'm hoping for much success, and have much optimism that we will move forward in a positive manner," she said.

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