Some folks fear that the transition to EVs will lead to major job losses in the auto industry—and not without reason, as EVs require different (and fewer) components than legacy ICE vehicles. Auto plants around the country are in danger of downsizing or shutting down altogether, and helping these facilities to retool for EV production… Read more »
Search Results Found For: "Blue Bird"
WRI says converting school buses to electric drive can save money and reduce emissions
EV conversions are not generally thought of as a way to save money—in the passenger vehicle segment, they tend to be the province of affluent car-lovers. However, a recent report from the World Resources Institute tells us that repowering existing school buses with electric drivetrains could be a lower-cost and greener option compared to buying… Read more »
AMPLY Power to manage charging of electric school buses in Palermo, California
AMPLY Power offers managed charging services to operators of EV fleets. Its newest customer is the Palermo Union Elementary School District in Northern California. AMPLY helped to secure funding from the Butte County Air Quality Management District, and local utility PG&E provided charger rebates and “make ready” EVSE incentives, eliminating the need for any upfront… Read more »
North Dakota deploys first electric school bus
North Dakota’s West Fargo Public Schools has taken delivery of the state’s first electric school bus, a Blue Bird Vision with the Cummins PowerDrive system. The electric bus has a range of 120 miles and can operate in temperatures as low as negative 20 degrees. Funding for the bus was provided by the North Dakota… Read more »
Electric buses from BYD, Proterra, New Flyer at APTA Conference
There were several electric buses on display at the recent American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Bus & Paratransit Conference in Tampa, lined up along the waterfront behind Amalie Arena, home ice for the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Sierra Club’s Phil Compton was there to speak to the manufacturers’ reps and snap some photos. Conference attendees… Read more »
Efficient Drivetrains’ PowerDrive 8000 electrification kit for Class 8 trucks
Efficient Drivetrains, Inc. (EDI) has expanded its PowerDrive product family to include a heavy-duty offering suitable for Class 8 vehicles. EDI will offer its PowerDrive 8000 series as an electrification kit and developer support program for OEMs looking to quickly bring heavy-duty electrified vehicle offerings to market. EDI’s medium-duty PowerDrive 6000 and 7000 series products… Read more »
DOE awards $18 million for plug-in work trucks, electric school buses and highway charging
The DOE has announced new awards of $18 million to five alternative fuel projects, four of them EV-related: Odyne Systems will receive $2.9 million to develop plug-in hybrid work trucks (class 7) that reduce fuel consumption by more than 50% and eliminate fuel consumption during stationary operations. Blue Bird Body Company will receive $4.9 million… Read more »
Volvo’s new Electric Hybrid transit bus reduces energy consumption by 60%
Volvo will officially launch its 7900 Electric Hybrid transit bus, a plug-in version of the company’s proven 7900 Hybrid, at the International IAA Commercial Vehicles show in September. The 7900, which is available in both rigid-bodied and articulated versions, offers fuel consumption and CO2 emissions up to 75% lower than a legacy diesel bus. Total… Read more »
California program to demonstrate electric school buses with V2G technology
The California Energy Commission has approved a $1.4-million grant to the consulting firm National Strategies (NSI) for an electric school bus demonstration program. Together with a previously awarded grant from the South Coast Air Quality Management District, the total of $2.2 million will finance the development of six electric school buses that will be deployed… Read more »
Vanguard shows off new motors, controllers and battery packs in multiple power and voltage options
Engine maker Briggs and Stratton is familiar to anyone who’s ever mowed a lawn. The company’s Vanguard brand, which provides commercial battery and motor products and solutions, showed its brand-new MVG Series of motors and MC Series of motor controllers at the recent Equip Exposition, along with a range of equipment applications powered by Vanguard… Read more »