Blue Bird unveils Class 5-6 EV platform

Blue Bird, known for its school buses, has unveiled a Class 5-6 electric vehicle platform to support step vans, specialty vehicles, and motor homes.

The modular designs allow for several battery configurations, ranging from 70 to 225 kWh, supporting ranges of up to 175 miles (280 km) on a single charge. The charging itself can be completed between one and 12 hours depending on the available infrastructure.

Blue Bird chassis
Blue Bird unveils its new EV chassis during ACT Expo in Long Beach, Calif. (Photo: NHOUSE Photo Services for Gladstein Neandross and Associates)

Wheelbase options of 178, 190 and 208 inches are available with gross vehicle weight ratings of up to 26,000 lb.

Features include a “hill hold” to keep the vehicle from rolling backward while sitting stationary on a hill, and “electric creep” which allows for a slow moving start from a stopped position after a driver lifts their foot from the brake pedal.

A prototype was built with Lightning eMotors of Colorado.


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