The State of New Mexico has committed over $5 million in taxpayer funds to a so-called “pilot program” with GreenPower Motor Company. This financially unstable, controversy-ridden electric vehicle manufacturer has already failed to deliver on similar promises in other states. The funds come from the far-left budget passed by the Democrat-dominated Legislature earlier this year (although some Republicans did vote for it), squandering millions on this leftist “climate change” project.
Marketed as a step toward sustainable transportation by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and far-leftists, the project is poised to waste public money, prop up an out-of-state firm in financial distress, and leave little to no benefit for New Mexico school districts.
Under the plan, GreenPower will provide just six electric school buses: three Type A “Nano BEAST Access” units in 2025–26, followed by three larger Type D “BEAST” and “Mega BEAST” models in 2026–27. The buses will rotate through five school districts in six-week trials, with accompanying temporary charging infrastructure. According to the press release, the state is paying over $5 million for this short-term, limited rollout.
The manufacturer, GreenPower Motor Company (NASDAQ: GP), is no stranger to controversy. The company is currently the subject of a cease-trade order from the British Columbia Securities Commission for failing to file its 2025 audited financial statements on time. This type of regulatory sanction raises serious concerns about internal operations and financial controls.
GreenPower’s own auditor, Crowe MacKay LLP, has previously been disciplined by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) for deficiencies in audit performance. GreenPower’s financial strategy hinges on short-term, insider loans with high interest rates. In June 2025, it disclosed receiving a $200,000 insider loan with 12% interest and bonus shares as collateral.
In its most recent financial reports, GreenPower acknowledged a liability of $3.76 million to FWP Holdings, a company affiliated with its President Brendan Riley.
The company operates a sales office in Rancho Cucamonga, California, an assembly facility in Porterville, California, and a production facility in South Charleston, West Virginia. It is incorporated in Canada and trades on NASDAQ in the U.S. The company’s subsidiaries include:
- Electric Vehicle Logistics Inc.
- GreenPower Manufacturing WV Inc.
- Lion Truck Body Incorporated
- San Joaquin Valley Equipment Leasing, Inc.
GreenPower is also embroiled in a dispute with the State of West Virginia, where it received millions in taxpayer-funded incentives to manufacture electric buses—only to miss delivery deadlines and trigger allegations of breach of contract. GreenPower blamed the state for delays in permits, but the buses never arrived on time, and the state is now trying to recover losses, as reported in June by WV Metro News.
Now, New Mexico is following West Virginia’s lead—despite the warning signs. Even if the buses arrive, New Mexico’s rural grid is not equipped for high-capacity 387 kWh battery charging or experimental vehicle-to-grid (V2G) infrastructure. The program provides no full-time fleet deployment, no permanent infrastructure, and no long-term training continuity. It’s a rotating demo that ends with nothing in place.
For over $5 million, the state could have replaced dozens of aging diesel buses with newer, reliable, lower-emission alternatives or invested in proven hybrid models. Instead, it has chosen to gamble on an unproven company with financial red flags, regulatory issues, and a track record of missed targets.
This isn’t an investment in education or infrastructure. It’s a taxpayer-funded experiment with a struggling stock-listed company trying to keep its head above water. And when the buses stop running and the demo ends, New Mexicans will be left with nothing but headlines and a bill.
More disgusting corruption by NM’s inept and foul government, including the RINO’s. What a racket!
Is there a kickback ? Not in NM that wouldn’t happen here or ?
Reminds me of that classic Who song “Magic Bus.”
Hey, just what NM needs buses running on electricity, (in the middle of the dessert, where are the recharging stations or will they need to be built too?????). Gotta love the government here in NM ready to shell out lots and lots of money on a company and business that is already in hot water and up to their necks in debt and failing their precious customers. Oh but MLG and her fellow trolls probably got paid off to OK such a piece of garbage transaction. OH NO, NM will never go with something tried and true, they we will have to go with the leftover of others. Thanks Dems.
And remember the 20 electric buses that the City of ABQ purchased? They got 3,and all have been returned because they took all night to charge and only ran 3-4 hours.
Great comments, very good opinion .
Let’s see…8 buses for 5 million dollars. That’s $833,333 per bus to get the program started. What a deal!
Typo. Six buses, not eight.
I wonder if this is the second iteration of the BYD bus company that sent busses to Albuquerque during the Berry administration and were rejected. Berry was a Republican, but a horrible Mayor….that whole ART project is a colossal failure. I guess the dems dont learn from failure.
Simple. Follow the money!
Wait till you learn how much the state, pnm and the epa paid for other ev buses that are currently being delivered. They are 4 times the cost of a traditional bus and dont last any longer with 1/4 the range.
Is this Groundhog Day? Remember those crap Communist Chinese buses they tried and failed with and sent them packing back to the hell they came from due to unreliability The Lawn Gnome and her ilk are like dogs going back to slurp up their own vomit.
ABQRIDE already did electric buses. they failed. but democrats have an agenda, spend YOUR MONEY to fulfill their fantasy. You cant fix stupid NM. you will be forever stupid
MLG bought an electric mustang for her use as governor with tax money. an official car that is state owned. what an ass that woman is. state govt has ballooned under her tryanny and the state budget has gone up 70 percent. and what did we get ? bigger govt that is still lousy, thats it. what a sham this entire state govt is.
ENRON?
Please please don’t vote for Keller please please
These electric buses are school busses. Electric busses are known to catch on fire. Will these busses put children in jeopardy? Oh, right, New Mexico don’t give a rats pitoot about children. The ones they can’t kill in the womb they give back to abusive parents to do the job.