Blue Bird has expanded its production capacity to 5,000 electric school buses a year after it recently opened its ‘Electric Vehicle Build-up Centre’ at the company’s primary U.S. production facility in Fort Valley, Georgia.

The school bus utilises 196kWh batteries which have 25 percent more capacity than previous generations and fast charging capabilities allows the bus to be fully charged in three hours. Furthermore, this generation is 450 kg (1000 pounds) lighter, making it more efficient than its predecessors.

By the end of 2023, the factory will be producing up to 2,500 electric school buses a year whilst employing 1,400 new staff members.

BYD announced that it will offer potential U.S. customers, application assistance in applying for funding through the 2023 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean School Bus Grant Program. 2023 sees USD 400 million of funding in this round with BYD offering two eligible battery electric school bus models under the program: The Achiever (Type A) and the Dreamer (Type D).

The new CE Series buses will be based on the ‘International MV’ chassis for medium-duty trucks, with a Cummins B6.7 engine (providing power up to 325 hp and torque up to 750 lb-ft) and Meritor and/or Dana axles.

Designed with significantly higher ground clearance and a suspension suited for off-road journeys, the Bus Rural, which is compact is size measuring 8.78m long and 2.50m wide, is mounted on the 15-210 Iveco chassis.

Mark Blaufuss and Dan Thau, two finance executives join the Board of Directors effective immediately.

Blue Bird has delivered 60, Vision electric school buses to the Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) district in Florida. Each of these vehicles can carry 72 students travelling up to 120 miles on a single charge, taking 3-8 hours to fully recharge depending on the charging infrastructure.

160 Proterra Powered ‘Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley’ buses will be deployed in school districts across the state of South Carolina next year, paid for by funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Electric-powered medium and heavy-duty vehicle manufacturer, GreenPower Motor Company Inc, based in Vancouver, British Columbia, has appointed Peterson Trucks Inc as its official school bus dealer in the state of Oregon, with plans to expand throughout the USA.

VW latest school bus order for 2,300 vehicles, all with Marcopolo bodies, takes numbers sold under the Caminho da Escola program in the last 15 years to over 27,000.

The two companies - who have already produced school buses on the Ford Class 4 chassis platform - will now start working with the GM 4500 as well; a cutaway van chassis best known as the basis for the ‘Silverado’ pickup truck range by Chevrolet.