Thomas Built Buses Inc. has received full California Air Resources Board (CARB) and Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP) certifications for its Type C electric bus, the Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley powered by Proterra electric vehicle technology. This certification officially qualifies Jouley for state vouchers.
In addition, Thomas Built Buses has announced eligibility for funding from the California Energy Commission (CEC) for the same vehicle. Through this program, California school districts purchasing the Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley electric school bus are eligible for reimbursement of disposed older school buses approved under the CEC’s GFO-17-607 grant program. BusWest, a Thomas Built dealership in California, will assist customers with purchasing the vehicle with CEC funds.
Jouley is configured with 220 kWh of total energy capacity, a two-speed transmission and an operating range of up to 120 miles. The Jouley can charge in about three hours with the Proterra DC charging system.
The vehicle will be assembled in High Point, N.C., in Thomas Built Buses’ zero-waste-to-landfill facility. Proterra’s battery systems are designed and manufactured in Burlingame, Calif. Electric school bus production for demonstration and innovation vehicles begins this year, and commercial production begins in 2020.
“School buses are a great application for battery-electric vehicle technology, and we’re excited to bring our industry-leading battery systems to the most popular Thomas Built Buses vehicle,” says Proterra’s CEO, Ryan Popple. “In addition to greater efficiency and lower operating costs, electric school buses have zero tailpipe emissions, which eliminates exhaust emissions and benefits our communities and our children.”