Blue Bird has unveiled its latest electric school bus, the next-generation Vision, at the renowned STN Expo West in North America. This milestone launch signifies the ongoing partnership between Blue Bird and Accelera by Cummins, the zero-emissions technology division of Cummins.
The Type C electric school bus features an advanced powertrain platform and an upgraded battery with an impressive 196kWh capacity, representing a significant increase compared to its predecessor. The Vision electric bus boasts a range of up to 130 miles on a single charge and supports fast-charging at 80kW, allowing for a quick full recharge in only three hours.
Blue Bird has also enhanced the warranty on the upgraded system, now accommodating 360 MWh of energy throughput, more than double the standard battery offering. This enhancement provides benefits to Blue Bird customers who utilize the batteries’ vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities, allowing them to sell excess energy back to power companies for additional revenue.
The next-generation Vision electric bus’s compact and lightweight batteries contribute to improved efficiency and a notable vehicle weight reduction of approximately 1,000 lbs. This weight reduction has enabled Blue Bird to increase the bus’s seating capacity, accommodating up to 77 passengers, compared to the previous model’s capacity of 72.
One of the key features of the advanced Vision electric school bus is its superior performance in cold weather climates. With an improved engineering design and internally insulated batteries, the vehicle’s next-generation energy storage system significantly minimizes heat loss. Additionally, an optional fuel-fired heating system has been introduced, generating over 20 percent more cabin heat than the current solution, ensuring a comfortable experience for students during winter months.
Britton Smith, President of Blue Bird Corporation, emphasized the company’s commitment to technology advancement and innovation in the school bus industry. With nearly 1,000 electric school buses already operating in North America, the launch of the next-generation Vision electric bus reflects Blue Bird’s dedication to providing high-quality, zero-emission buses to school districts across the continent.
The manufacturing of the next-generation electric school buses will continue at Blue Bird’s Fort Valley, Ga facility. The company has recently inaugurated its EV Build-up Center, allowing it to increase production capacity to 5,000 electric school buses annually. Accelera, Blue Bird’s trusted partner, will be supplying the electric powertrain for the new Vision electric bus, reinforcing their longstanding history of technology collaboration and nationwide service.
Brian Wilson, General Manager of Electrified Components at Accelera, expressed satisfaction with the five-year partnership with Blue Bird and their shared mission to provide safe, efficient, and sustainable electric school buses in North America. He noted that such collaborations are defining a new era of excellence in technology innovation and service support, crucial for decarbonizing fleets.
As the sole U.S.-owned and operated school bus manufacturer in the country, Blue Bird remains a prominent force in clean transportation. With over 20,000 propane, natural gas, and electric-powered buses currently in operation, the transition to clean student transportation reflects their commitment to a greener future and supports approximately 2,000 well-paying jobs in the United States.
