Thomas Built Delivers Proterra-Powered E-Buses

Thomas Built Buses (TBB), its exclusive Virginia dealer, Sonny Merryman, and Proterra, a global supplier of heavy-duty electric transportation technology, recently marked the delivery of the first Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley battery-electric school buses in Virginia under phase one of Dominion Energy’s Electric School Bus Initiative.

Last December, Dominion Energy selected TBB as the sole provider of all 50 electric school buses allocated for the initial phase of its electric school bus program, which aims to support Virginia school districts as they transition their school bus fleets from diesel to electric. The program will also allow Dominion Energy to explore the battery storage capabilities of electric school buses to provide reliability related services on the electric grid. The program currently represents the largest planned deployment of electric school buses in the United States, TBB said.

“Electric school buses provide an innovative, sustainable solution that will help the environment, protect children’s health, make the electric grid stronger, and free up money for our schools,” said Dan Weekley, vice president of Innovation Policy and Development, Dominion Energy. “We’re excited to see these buses start to arrive in the Commonwealth and we look forward to working with school districts across Virginia to get this new technology on the roads.”

“Our team has always prided ourselves as innovation leaders in pupil transportation,” said Floyd Merryman, president and CEO of Sonny Merryman. “Dominion’s initiative is especially exciting not just for us but also for Virginia’s students and our many loyal partners across the Commonwealth’s public education community.”

The unveil of Virginia’s first electric school buses builds on additional recent deployments of Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley electric school buses across the United States, including deliveries in Alaska, Illinois, Massachusetts and Michigan.

“We are thrilled to pave the way for a cleaner future for the children in Virginia,” said Caley Edgerly, president and CEO of TBB. “We believe electric school buses to be the future of pupil transportation and with quieter operation, lower operating costs and zero emissions, Virginia school districts should quickly realize the cost and societal benefits of this school bus fleet conversion.”

TBB’s all-electric Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley electric school bus is equipped with Proterra electric drivetrain technology and is configured with 220 kWh of total energy capacity, a two-speed transmission and an estimated operating range of up to 135 miles. TBB said it is currently the only school bus manufacturer to offer dc fast charging architecture as standard equipment. Jouley buses can charge in about three hours and can supply power back to the power grid using vehicle to grid (V2G) technology.

“Battery-electric school buses offer a safe and reliable mode of transportation that improves air quality and protects the health of our students and communities,” said Jack Allen, Proterra CEO. “Now, thanks to the leadership of Dominion Energy, we’re excited to go even further by showing how embracing electric school buses can also strengthen the electricity grid.”

TBB and Proterra offer electrical infrastructure project management and a comprehensive turnkey solution for EV integration. Known as the Electric Bus Authority Program, Thomas Built Buses works one-on-one with customers through the entire EV planning and implementation process.