Business
Blue Bird to Offer Electric Repower Option for Gasoline- and Propane-Powered School Buses
Blue Bird expands collaboration with Lightning eMotors to offer factory certified electric repower program Blue Bird customers can future-proof their school
About this update from Blue Bird Corporation
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\nBlue Bird expands collaboration with Lightning eMotors to offer factory certified electric repower program\n\n\nBlue Bird customers can future-proof their school bus fleet by purchasing gasoline- or propane-powered vehicles and converting them easily and cost-effectively to zero-emission, electric buses later\n\n\nRepowering seen as an excellent bridge strategy to electrification for school bus fleets\n\n\n MACON, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--\nBlue Bird Corporation (Nasdaq: BLBD), the leader in electric and low-emission school buses, will offer a first-of-its-kind factory certified electric repower program on select gasoline- and propane-powered Blue Bird school buses. The company is collaborating with Lightning eMotors, a Colorado-based manufacturer of electric powertrains and complete zero-emission vehicle solutions, to jointly develop this repower electric vehicle (EV) powertrain system. Blue Bird customers can future-proof their school bus fleet by purchasing gasoline- or propane-powered vehicles and converting them easily and cost-effectively to zero-emission, electric buses later.\nThis press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220803005655/en/Blue Bird will offer an electric repower program on its gasoline- and propane-powered Vision school buses starting in 2023. The company expands its collaboration with Colorado-based Lightning eMotors. Blue Bird customers can future-proof their school bus fleet by purchasing gasoline- or propane-powered vehicles and converting them easily to zero-emission, electric buses when needed. (Image provided by Lightning eMotors)\nBlue Bird will launch the repower program in 2023 for gasoline- and propane-powered Blue Bird Vision Type C school buses built after September 2021. The electric repower system will enable the same performance and safety standards customers expect from OEM-built electric vehicles. The electric powertrain system will allow for several battery configurations from 100kWh to 225kWh supporting a projected vehicle range of up to 150 miles on a single charge depending on battery configuration.\n\nThe school bus conversion process from gasoline- or propane-powered to electric will be done to the same OEM safety and quality standards as a new Blue Bird bus at authorized Blue Bird and Lightning eMotors conversion cent...