New Mexico has begun a two-year pilot program to evaluate the use of electric school buses.

The program is the result of a partnership between the New Mexico Economic Development Department and GreenPower Motor Company, the manufacturer of the vehicles.

On Monday, the zero-emission buses began transporting students at Valley Elementary-Middle School in Ribera and Mike Mateo Sena Elementary School in Sapello and will begin soon at Las Vegas City and West Las Vegas schools and the Monte del Sol charter school in Santa Fe.

GreenPower has signed a memorandum of understanding with the state to assess the viability and reliability of using the buses. The state will spend $5 million to purchase the vehicles and cover the cost of the pilot project.

Under the agreement, GreenPower will install

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