The EPA visited a school in Winthrop, Maine later last month as part of an investigation into electric buses supplied to schools through federal grants. This probe comes after it is discovered that the bus built by a Canadian company has been proven to be incorrect.
Federal agents visited schools in Maine in late January to investigate an electric school bus built by Quebec-based Lion Electric Coopane. Interim manager Becky Foley explained the situation to the Board of Education earlier this month. Report By Kennebeck Journal.
Foley said the EPA interviewed her and Josh Wheeler, the district's traffic director.
“Last week I met with a special agent from the EPA to see if the fraud was committed by the lion,” she told the school board on Feb. 5. . ”
Headquartered in Saint-Jerome, Canada, Lion Electric was the first company to recently apply for credit protection and provide electric buses to Maine through a federal program seeking to replace gasoline-powered buses with EVS. journal Report.
However, the Quebec-based company has discovered that all buses that have consistently experienced problems come from Lion Electric, and is now part of the Maine program that provides electric buses to provincial school districts. It's gone.
Additionally, Maine schools have begun reporting issues with EV buses from day one.
In a letter sent to the EPA last month, Maine Education Chairman Pendermakin asked how she should advise schools in her state on a lion electric bus.
“In more than half of the school districts, including Winthrop, buses remain unoperated,” Central Maine noted.
Meanwhile, a former Lion Electrician told the outlet that the company's buses “are more like a science project than a verified road vehicle.”
In particular, because Lion Electric is credit protected, it means it is not capable of shipping the parts needed to secure the bus. Meanwhile, the Canadian company reportedly owes at least $57,000 to schools in Maine for bus rentals used in place of EVs that were not able to operate properly.
“We're waiting for the technician to appear,” Foley said Thursday. “Our buses are still under warranty so we're waiting for technicians, but there are no technicians in Maine.”
“High-tech will tell you what's wrong with the bus and what it needs,” she added.
Alana Mastrangelo is a reporter for Breitbart News. You can follow her Facebook and x at @armestrangeloand on Instagram.
