MACON, Georgia–(BUSINESS WIRE)–May 20, 2024–
Blue Bird Corporation (Nasdaq: BLBD), a leader in electric and low-emission school buses, will debut its electric-powered pickup truck at the upcoming 2024 Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Show, America’s largest advanced transportation technology and clean fleet event. North. . The company teamed up with Xos (Nasdaq: XOS) and Morgan Olson to manufacture the prototype. Blue Bird will showcase its pioneering zero-emission vehicle and chassis at the trade event, which will be held May 20-23, 2024, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Suite 2470, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Blue Bird will debut an operational prototype of its electric-powered, basic-frame pickup truck at the 2024 Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) show May 20-23, 2024, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Blue Bird has teamed up with Xos and Morgan Olson to build the prototype of a pioneering commercial vehicle for last-mile delivery. (Photo courtesy of Blue Bird)
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 camper and chassis on display 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 one and twelve hours to fully recharge depending on the charging infrastructure.
Blue Bird’s 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 innovative vehicle platform to maximize vehicle payload while continuing to prioritize vehicle safety.
Blue Bird offers several safety features in its electric vehicle prototype that are not standard in similar electric vehicles to enhance driver protection and familiarity. These include ‘Hill Hold’, which prevents the vehicle from rolling backwards or forwards when sitting still on a hill, and ‘Electric Crawl’, which allows the vehicle to start moving slowly from a stop when the driver’s foot is lifted off the brake pedal to simulate a petrol engine in gear . Additionally, the Blue Bird striped body provides best-in-class 55-degree wheel cuts for improved maneuverability in tight urban environments.
“In 2022, Blue Bird introduced its commercial EV concept vehicle at the ACT Expo,” said Britton Smith, president of Blue Bird. “This week we will debut an operational prototype of our electric-powered minibus at ACT Expo 2024 that is based on industry-leading electric vehicle technology. For nearly a century, Blue Bird has refined its core capabilities in designing, engineering and manufacturing school buses from A to Z We are now one step closer to applying our global vehicle manufacturing expertise and expanding our electric-powered products to the commercial vehicle market.
Blue Bird has partnered with Xos, a leading electric truck manufacturer and fleet electrification provider from California, bringing its experience gained from deploying hundreds of zero-emission commercial electric vehicles since 2018. Xos’ powertrain technology is a key feature of Blue’s move Bird transport vehicle. Additionally, this collaboration includes Morgan Olson, a Michigan-based work truck body builder, which is responsible for providing the body for the prototype. Morgan Olson’s work truck bodies deliver millions of packages to North American businesses and homes every day.
“We are honored that Blue Bird has chosen to entrust Xos with the technology needed to power its electric truck prototype,” said Dakota Semler, CEO of Xos. “This collaboration is a testament to the reliability, efficiency and innovation that Xos brings to 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,” said 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. The company is the only American-owned and operated school bus manufacturer in the United States. Additionally, Blue Bird is the No. 1 electric school bus manufacturer in North America, operating more than 1,500 zero-emission school buses today.
Blue Bird will also showcase the latest low- and zero-emission vehicle technologies at the ACT Expo. The company continues to be a leader in clean transportation with more than 20,000 propane, natural gas and electric buses in operation today. The ACT Expo takes place May 20-23, 2024 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
About Blue Bird Company
Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) has been known as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability and durability. School buses carry the world’s most expensive cargo – 25 million children twice a day – making them the most trusted means of transporting students. The company is the leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 20,000 propane, natural gas and electric buses in operation today. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry with clean energy solutions. For more information about Blue Bird’s full range of products and services, visit www.blue-bird.com.
About XOS Company
Xos is a leading technology company, electric truck manufacturer, and fleet services provider for battery electric fleets. Xos vehicles and fleet management software are designed specifically for medium and heavy commercial vehicles traveling on last-mile and back-to-base routes. The company leverages its proprietary technologies to provide commercial fleets with battery electric vehicles that are easier to maintain and more cost effective on a total cost of ownership (TCO) basis than their internal combustion engine counterparts. For more information, visit www.xostrucks.com.
About Morgan Olson
Morgan Olson is the leading manufacturer of pickup truck bodies in North America, with a portfolio of customers serving numerous industries and delivery applications. The primary segment served by these popular work trucks is package pickup and home delivery. Almost everything ordered online is delivered daily by the Morgan Olson Walk-In Step Van to millions of businesses and homes. Other critical industries served include uniform rental and commercial laundry services, baked foods and snacks, city municipalities, telecommunications providers, utility services, and mobile food trucks. For more information, visit https://morganolson.com.
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Keyword: United States of America North America Nevada Georgia
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Source: Blue Bird Company
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Publication date: 05/20/2024 10:00 AM / Disc: 05/20/2024 10:00 AM
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