RENO, Nev. — Blue Bird unveiled two new electric-powered school buses at the STN Tradeshow to nearly 1,000 live attendees and hundreds more on their live news feeds. Blue Bird introduced its all-new Type A Micro Bird G5 electric-powered school bus and then revealed its all-new electric-powered Type D chassis which will power its Type D All American rear engine (RE) school bus.
This announcement comes on the heels of a $4.4 million Department of Energy grant awarded to Blue Bird in December 2016 to develop a Type C Vision electric-powered school bus. The company built its first electric-powered bus in 1994 for deployment in Southern California as a demonstration project. These new buses incorporate the latest technological advancements in electric motors, batteries and control systems.
“With diesel, gasoline, propane and CNG engines offered across our product range, Blue Bird already leads the way in the breadth of affordable engine offerings for our customers,” said Phil Horlock, president and CEO of Blue Bird Corp. “The addition of electric-powered buses to our fleet is a further illustration of our commitment to provide the broadest array of school bus products that our customers want and value. With zero emissions, low operating costs and terrific electric engine development partners in ADOMANI and EDI, we believe now is a great time to bring these new electric solutions to the market.”
Blue Bird chose to display the Type D RE chassis at the STN Expo so that visitors could clearly see the powertrain and battery components. “The body will be exactly the same as the All American RE model you currently see on diesel units,” said Dennis Whitaker, VP of product development at Blue Bird. “After the show, this chassis will immediately be delivered to our design group in Fort Valley for body mount and to enter the ‘test and validation’ phase. The start of production will be in 2018.”
The Blue Bird All American RE electric bus chassis was developed in conjunction with California-based ADOMANI, Inc. and operates on an energy-efficient electric drivetrain supplied by Efficient Drivetrains, Inc. The bus offers battery capacities of 100-150 kWh with an expected 80-100 miles range from a single charge, depending on driving habits. Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology is also under development for this bus, which allows the bus to deliver electricity back into the grid, allowing contractors and school districts to “sell back” energy to power companies. This helps to reduce maintenance expenses and allow users to experience lower fueling costs that will drive a lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
Additionally, a Type A Micro Bird G5 Electric school bus on a Ford E450 chassis, which touts a range of up to 100 miles in a single charge, made its debut at the show. “The Micro Bird G5 Electric will be offered as an integrated and certified solution that expands on Blue Bird’s market-leading school bus product line,” said Steve Girardin, president of Micro Bird. “With 100 miles of range in almost all climates and comparable performances with a combustion engine, we are particularly proud that our Micro Bird G5 Electric will continue to further Blue Bird’s leadership in the reduction of greenhouse gases.”
Both the Micro Bird G5 Electric bus and T3RE “All American” Blue Bird bus will be available in 2018.
About Blue Bird Corp.
Celebrating its 90th year in business, Blue Bird is the leading independent designer and manufacturer of school buses, with more than 550,000 buses sold since its formation in 1927 and approximately 180,000 buses in operation today. Blue Bird’s longevity and reputation in the school bus industry have made it an iconic American brand. Blue Bird distinguishes itself from its principal competitors by its singular focus on the design, engineering, manufacture, and sale of school buses and related parts.
As the only manufacturer of chassis and body production specifically designed for school bus applications, Blue Bird is recognized as an industry leader for school bus innovation, safety, product quality/reliability/durability, operating costs and drivability. In addition, Blue Bird is the market leader in alternative fuel applications with its propane-powered and compressed natural gas-powered school buses. Blue Bird manufactures school buses at two facilities in Fort Valley, Georgia. Its Micro Bird joint venture operates a manufacturing facility in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada. Service and after-market parts are distributed from Blue Bird’s parts distribution center located in Delaware, Ohio. www.blue-bird.com
About ADOMANI
California-based ADOMANI, Inc. provides school bus and fleet operators with Zero Emission Vehicle and plug-in hybrid solutions. ADOMANI brings together proven patented electric drivetrain technology, customized products, and trusted service partners to cut total cost of ownership, boost vehicle reliability, and unlock the many benefits of green technology. www.adomanielectric.com
About EDI
Efficient Drivetrains, Inc. develops and markets a range of state-of-the-art PHEV and EV drivetrain solutions worldwide. EDI’s leading-edge hybrid-electric and electric drivetrain systems and technologies enable OEMs to meet zero-emissions requirements while providing significant cost and efficiency advantages across nearly all platform classes and configurations. EDI is currently active in automotive projects throughout North America and the APAC region. www.efficientdrivetrains.com
