Accelera and Blue Bird Unveil Next-Generation Electric School Bus

Accelera™ by Cummins, the zero-emissions arm of Cummins Inc., and Blue Bird Corporation, a leader in electric and low-emission school buses, have unveiled the next-generation Vision electric school bus at STN Expo West in Reno, Nevada. The new electric bus features the Accelera™ PowerDrive 7000, an upgraded electric powertrain system, and a next-gen battery with 196kWh capacity, a 25% increase from the previous model. This allows the buses to travel up to 130 miles on a single charge. The partnership between Accelera and Blue Bird aims to deploy 1,000 electric school buses across North America in 12 to 18 months. “Accelera’s partnership with Blue Bird is in its fifth year, and together we are defining a new era of excellence in technology innovation and service support,” said Brian Wilson, General Manager of Electrified Components at Accelera. “Continuous improvement is in our DNA and we are driven to provide safe, efficient and sustainable electric school buses across North America by offering tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of our customers while raising the bar on expectations for BEVs.”

The improved assembly process results in better build quality and quicker lead times for these electric school buses. The partnership has already seen success in Colorado and California, where school districts have adopted electric buses for cleaner, quieter, and more comfortable rides. Blue Bird, a prominent company in the school bus industry, continues its commitment to innovation with the new Vision electric school bus, featuring the PowerDrive 7000 system. This system includes compact and lighter batteries, increasing seating capacity from 72 to 77 passengers. The batteries also have internal insulation to minimize heat loss, and the simplified architecture and optimized software enhance energy distribution, reliability, and maintenance efficiency.

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