Blue Bird Corporation, a manufacturer of electric and low-emission school buses, has introduced its electric-powered minivan. The company collaborated with Xos and Morgan Olson to manufacture the prototype.
Blue Bird is building on its nearly century of school bus manufacturing experience to expand zero-emission transportation solutions to the commercial vehicle market. The last-mile hauler and barebones chassis feature a 140 kWh lithium-ion battery. The batteries are mounted inside the frame rails to provide superior battery protection. The battery pack supports the vehicle’s range of up to 130 miles on a single charge. It takes between 1 and 12 hours to fully recharge depending on the charging infrastructure.
The prototype is based on a 178-inch wheelbase for last-mile delivery vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of up to 23,000 pounds. The company uses lightweight materials and components for its vehicle platform, maximizing vehicle payload while still prioritizing vehicle safety.
Many of the safety features in Blue Bird’s EV prototype are not standard on similar electric vehicles. These include ‘hill hold’, which prevents the vehicle from rolling backwards or forwards when stationary on a hill; and “electric crawl,” which allows the vehicle to start moving slowly from a stop when the driver takes his foot off the brake pedal to simulate a gasoline engine in operation. Additionally, Blue Bird’s striped body provides 55-degree wheel cuts for improved maneuverability in tight urban environments.
Blue Bird has partnered with Xos, an electric truck manufacturer and fleet electrification services provider from California. Xos powertrain technology is a key feature of the Blue Bird truck. This collaboration also includes Morgan Olson, a Michigan-based work truck body builder, responsible for providing the body for the prototype.
“We are honored that Blue Bird has chosen to entrust Xos with the technology needed to power its electric truck prototype,” says Dakota Semler, CEO of Xos. “This collaboration is a testament to the reliability, efficiency and innovation that puts Xos at the forefront of the commercial electric vehicle market.”
“We at Morgan Olson look forward to a fruitful collaboration with Blue Bird and Xos to develop this prototype truck,” adds Mike Ownby, President and CEO of Morgan Olson. “By combining the expertise of our industry-leading companies, we are confident that we can offer our existing and new van customers a new step-up chassis option that provides great value in the commercial vehicle market.”
Blue Bird expects its electric-powered chassis to be commercially available in late 2024.
