A locally made, electrically powered school bus is getting attention as a possible next step in the transportation of kids to the classroom.

The E-Lion, a 70-seat bus, can go 120 km between refueling, or roughly twice the average bus route in Quebec. This fall, 50 of the buses are making their debut on the province’s roads.

“We’re also selling our buses in California,” said Marc Bedard, president of Autobus Lion, the company that makes the E-Lion. “We just started selling in Massachusetts as well. New York City, we feel we’re going to be getting sales there soon.”

Autobus Lion is a unique company in that their products are made entirely in Quebec. They are also the only zero-emission bus on the market.

“We to make sure, from an economic standpoint, that it makes sense as well,” he said. “This bus makes sense.”

While the initial cost is more than double that of a regular school bus at $300,000, the Quebec government offers a $125,000 rebate and Bedard said customers can expect to save about $10,000 per year in fuel and maintenance.

The Couillard government has previously announced an $8.6 million investment to develop prototypes of electric vehicles, which provides Autobus Lion with plenty of room for growth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are building trucks like delivery trucks, trucks that can be used for Transport Quebec and Bell,” said Bedard. “Service trucks and trucks for goods transportation.”

As an added bonus, Bedard said kids are really loving the buses, which could provide some long-term benefits.

“When a kid like an electric bus, it’s good peer pressure because when a kid goes home, do you know what they say? ‘Why don’t I have an electric car at home?’”