The South Carolina Department of Education has placed an order for 160 all-electric school buses from Thomas Built Buses (TBB), a North American subsidiary of Daimler. The order, which is for the Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley model, comes with drive technology from Proterra, and is said to be the largest single order of electric school buses to date.
The purchase is being fully funded by the federal EPA’s new Clean School Bus Program, and the vehicles are scheduled for delivery next year. With 226 kWh capacity batteries, the electric buses are capable of travelling up to 135 miles on a single charge, and can be charged within three hours using their DC fast charging equipment. In addition, the buses feature vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, which allows them to help stabilize local grids while parked at schools during the day.
The 160 electric buses will be deployed in school districts across South Carolina, and the procurement of the TBB-built vehicles was done through the TBB dealer Interstate Transportation. The provision of the buses is embedded in a “turnkey electric vehicle program” that includes planning and financing, charging hardware and installation of charging infrastructure.
According to Caley Edgerly, president and CEO of Thomas Built Buses, the purchase by the South Carolina Department of Education represents a major milestone for the company: “This order is not only a milestone for Thomas Built Buses, but it’s a milestone for the industry as a whole,” he said. “We’re thrilled to be at the forefront of this revolution, providing safe, reliable, and sustainable transportation for our nation’s children.”
Proterra CEO, Jack Allen, also commented on the order, stating: “The proven Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley electric school bus powered by Proterra electric vehicle technology offers a safe, clean, and quiet ride to school, while also helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution in the communities it serves. We’re proud to partner with Thomas Built Buses and Daimler Truck North America to deliver the largest order of electric school buses to date, and we look forward to continuing to expand access to clean, electric transportation across North America.”
With this order, Thomas Built Buses has now put more than 300 electric school buses on the road, thanks in part to its collaboration with Proterra. Daimler Trucks & Buses joined Proterra in 2018, with one of the first projects being the electrification of school buses. Proterra produces the core components at its ‘Powered 1’ battery factory in Greer that will be used in the TBB electric buses bound for South Carolina.
Headquartered in High Point, North Carolina, Thomas Built Buses is a subsidiary of Daimler Truck North America, which also includes brands such as Freightliner and Western Star. Daimler Truck North America, in turn, belongs to the parent company Daimler Truck. The order from the South Carolina Department of Education is a major step forward for the company, and for the wider adoption of electric school buses across the US.
