Blue Bird, long known for its iconic yellow school buses, is expanding its electric vehicle portfolio with the introduction of a new all-electric medium-duty Class 5-6 truck chassis, marking its most significant venture beyond school buses in decades.
The company, which began building its own chassis in 1952, is entering the competitive electric step van market with a model designed to support a range of applications such as food trucks, parcel delivery, and local service vehicles. The step van, which has a gross vehicle weight rating of 23,000 pounds, comes equipped with a 140kWh LFP battery pack and promises a range of up to 130 miles. Fast-charging capabilities allow the battery to recharge in about an hour using a 124kW DC charger, while slower AC charging can be completed overnight.
Targeting urban and regional delivery use cases, Blue Birdās truck incorporates design features aimed at improving fleet safety and efficiency. These include hill hold, electric creep, and a 55-degree wheel cut for tighter turnsāreducing the need for reversing, a common source of fleet accidents. Additionally, the truck will support over-the-air software updates, a feature still absent from many commercial vehicles.
The electric chassis, unveiled at the ACT Expo, reflects Blue Birdās strategy to diversify its EV offerings and leverage its longstanding experience in vehicle manufacturing. Production is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2026.