GreenPower Motor Co. Inc. announced that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) awarded $9.5 million to the City of Porterville, Calif., to deploy 10 GreenPower EV350 40-foot zero-emission all-electric transit buses on all nine Porterville Transit routes, and to install the charging infrastructure including 11 charging stations.

“We look forward to working with GreenPower in replacing our aging active-fleet to 100% electric buses that produce zero emissions,” said Richard Tree, transit manager for Porterville Transit. “Substantial grants like this one are driving the entire industry forward, and making all-electric the new norm in public transportation, while playing a significant role in accomplishing our mission to improve the environment in our community and the Valley.”

CARB’s award to the City of Porterville was one of only nine awards from the highly competitive Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Pilot Program. The grant award is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while providing clean-air benefits to California neighborhoods, with an emphasis on disadvantaged communities. California Climate Investments programs are funded by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund using proceeds from the state’s cap-and-trade auctions.

Projects like the one in Porterville are intended to help accelerate technology commercialization by placing significant numbers of zero- and near zero-emission trucks and buses in clusters, as well as installing the infrastructure necessary to support the project vehicles. In addition, Porterville Transit will operate all of the new buses on routes in disadvantaged communities — those most affected by air pollution — providing zero-emission transportation to many citizens who are dependent on public transportation for their daily needs.

GreenPower recently completed the acquisition of 9.3 acres in the City of Porterville, is working on the grading and development permits with the city, and has started the design of the modular buildings for a multi-phased development of a manufacturing facility comprising 150,000 square feet.