The orders continue to pile up for Lion Electric. The Quebec-based company has secured the largest order for electric school buses from a single customer in the company’s history.
First Student, North America’s leading school transportation solutions provider, has ordered 260 LionC school buses.
In a joint announcement, the companies said the first deliveries will begin in the second half of 2021, and continue through to the first half of 2023. The electric buses will be staying in Lion Electric’s home province. Transco, one of First Student’s subsidiaries, will operate the buses in Quebec.
“Today marks a new step in the adoption of zero-emission school buses,” said Marc Bedard, CEO and Founder of Lion. “First Student’s leadership demonstrates that zero-emission technology is here to meet the needs of the market at scale, as is our production capacity – we are not talking about pilot programs, but rather entire bus fleets going electric, with vehicles that meet the daily requirements of the industry’s largest operators.”
As part of the purchase, LionEnergy will work with First Student for the selection and installation of necessary charging infrastructure to support the fleet.
Lion Electric announced earlier this month plans to build the largest all-electric medium and heavy-duty vehicle plant in Illinois. The company will invest $70 million into the project, which will create at least 745 jobs over the next two years. Construction of the 900,000 square foot facility is expected to begin in the second half of 2021.
