Proterra and Thomas Built Buses Debut Electric School Bus
Proterra's heavy-duty energy storage system will power the Saf-T-Liner® eC2 vehicle to serve North American school bus needs
KANSAS CITY, Mo., Oct. 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Proterra, a leading innovator in electric transportation, and Thomas Built Buses, a leading manufacturer of school buses in North America, unveiled a new high-performance electric school bus, featuring an industry-leading Proterra® battery system, at the 44th Annual National Association of Pupil Transportation (NAPT) Conference. The Saf-T-Liner® eC2 electric school bus powered by Proterra represents Proterra's entrance into a new commercial vehicle sector, the school bus market, and further demonstrates the mass-market shift towards electrification of commercial transportation solutions. The eC2 bus powered by Proterra is being co-developed with Thomas Built Buses in Proterra's Greenville, SC manufacturing facility.
"This collaboration with Proterra supports our mission to deliver sustainable solutions to schools," said Caley Edgerly, Thomas Built Buses CEO. "We are excited to integrate Proterra's proven electric vehicle technology into our buses, to provide safe, clean and quiet transportation for children across the country."
Thomas Built Buses is a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America. In September, Proterra announced a collaboration with Daimler, the world's largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles, to explore opportunities to incorporate Proterra's electric vehicle technology into Daimler's commercial vehicle platforms. The Saf-T-Liner eC2 bus powered by Proterra is the first of these vehicles to be unveiled.
Designed from the ground-up with an emphasis on safety, durability and performance, Proterra battery packs provide industry-leading energy density and proprietary battery thermal management to ensure optimal vehicle performance and safety. Proterra battery systems undergo rigorous testing and incorporate both active and passive safety systems. The eC2 bus powered by Proterra can be charged with industry-standard J1772 CCS plug-in charging technology, including the Proterra 60kW charging system, in about three hours.
"School buses provide critical community infrastructure and are an excellent application for vehicle electrification," said Ryan Popple, Proterra CEO. "We're pleased to work with an industry leader like Thomas Built Buses to unveil a high performance electric school bus that reduces our children's exposure to diesel emissions."
About Thomas Built Buses:
Founded in 1916, Thomas Built Buses is a leading manufacturer of school buses in North America. Since the first Thomas Built bus rolled off the assembly line, the company has been committed to delivering the smartest and most innovative buses in North America. Thomas Built Buses, Inc., headquartered in High Point, N.C., is a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, the largest heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America and a leading manufacturer of class 4-8 vehicles. Daimler Trucks North America produces and markets commercial vehicles under the Freightliner, Western Star and Thomas Built Buses nameplates. Daimler Trucks North America is a Daimler company. Learn more at www.thomasbus.com or at http://www.facebook.com/thomasbuiltbuses.
About Proterra:
Proterra is a leader in the design and manufacture of zero-emission, heavy-duty electric vehicles, enabling bus fleet operators to significantly reduce operating costs while delivering clean, quiet transportation to local communities across North America. The company's configurable Catalyst® platform is capable of serving the daily mileage needs of nearly every transit route on a single charge. With industry leading durability and energy efficiency based on rigorous U.S. certification testing, Proterra products are proudly designed, engineered and manufactured in America, with offices in Silicon Valley, South Carolina, and Los Angeles. For more information, visit: http://www.proterra.com and follow us on Twitter @Proterra_Inc.
SOURCE Proterra
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