Thomas Built’s First Electric School Bus

School bus manufacturer Thomas Built Buses, High Point, N.C., a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America, has introduced the Saf-T-Liner C2 Electric school bus, referred to as Jouley 4. Jouley is the first generation of Thomas Built’s electric series production school bus and is scheduled for early production in 2019.

Thomas Built said that in addition to the same vehicle performance, safety and comfort as the Saf-T-Liner C2 diesel or LP fueled bus, this new electric school bus features quiet operation, produces zero emissions and even has exportable power. In this capacity, students riding the school bus will be able to charge their computers and other devices directly from the bus, the company said.

The first generation Saf-T-Liner C2 Electric bus comes equipped with the PowerDrive 7000ev powertrain from Efficient Drivetrains, Inc. (EDI), which provides 100-160kWh of battery energy and a baseline of 100-mile range and an operating range up to 100-miles between charges, with an option for a higher range with additional battery packs, the company said. Among its features is the PowerSuite vehicle control software and the PowerTracker telematics and diagnostics system that tracks bus location and provides real-time monitoring of potential issues.

“Jouley is named after the joule unit of energy,” said Caley Edgerly, president and CEO of Thomas Built Buses. “A joule is equivalent to the amount of energy that is dissipated as heat when an electric current of one ampere passes through a resistance of one ohm for one second. So we are having fun with Jouley.”

For more information: https://thomasbuiltbuses.com;  http://www.facebook.com/thomasbuiltbuses