STN EXPO Trade Show last month was abuzz with new launches, not the least of which were all-electric school buses


T


he fact that the STN EXPO Trade Show last month welcomed 127 exhibitors, the most ever in the event’s 24 years of existence, is reason enough to take notice. Tat’s not to mention the 900 attendees who made their way


down each vendor aisle on July 10 and 11 at Te Peppermill Resort in Reno, Nevada, STN EXPO’s new home. Nearly a full decade after the onslaught of the Great Recession, the school bus indus- try appears to once again be enjoying the fruits of its labors, with many—-but not all—-of the resulting budgetary constraints heaped onto school districts and suspensions of vehicle replacement cycles largely behind it. Tis year’s STN EXPO also marked the first large-scale industry


event held since engine and drivetrain manufacturers made comments earlier this year that the age of electric school buses is dawning. And, voila, in Reno student transporters saw their all- electric options double when Blue Bird unveiled the new Micro Bird G5 Electric school bus and, moments later, the electrified chassis that will drive a new Blue Bird All-American option. “It’s a great time for electric,” said Phil Horlock, president and


CEO of Blue Bird, shortly after the reveals. “Battery technology has improved so much. Costs are down. We have a great partner. We re- ally think we can move the industry along to more affordable green solutions. It’s a perfect time.”


With federal Phase 2 GHG emissions standards set to commence


in four short years, Blue Bird with partners ADOMANI, Inc. and EDI joined the likes of the Lion Bus eLion Type-C school bus and the Trans Tech eSeries Type-A school bus on the forefront of offering zero-emissions options to student transporters. Talk around the trade show and recent developments indicated that more OEMs will soon emerge with their own electric vehicles. Horlock told STN that Blue Bird will soon bring to market an all-electric, Type-C Vision as it hopes to be the first OEM to offer electric across all model types. In June, Navistar’s William Kozek announced he was stepping


down as president of the company’s truck and parts division to transition into a role focusing on vehicle electrification. In Febru- ary, Cummins announced it had started an electrified powertrain program. Several industry professionals told STN during the trade show that they expect to see all school bus OEMs, large and small, offering zero-emissions, all-electric school buses in as soon as five years. Daimler also continues development of electric, emissions-free vehicles that could trickle down to the Tomas Built Buses brand. And it wasn’t that long ago that IC Bus, Tomas and Collins were testing hybrid-electric technology. While much remains to be seen, such as continued reduction in


incremental costs, certainly the electric landscape is quickly evolving. So too is the new technology available to the school bus market.


American Cooling Technology expanded its options with


the release of the new EV-1 in-wall evaporator and electric A/C systems for hybrid and electric buses. With simple drop-in, one- piece construction, ACT said the EV-1 neatly fits into the rear wall of a vehicle that generates 35,000-96,000 Btu/hr in either 12 or 24 Volt Motors. ACT has also partnered with Emerson Climate Technologies in the application of electric scroll compressor technology on many bus applications.


AMF-Bruns of America offers maximized vehicle space with its new Hide-A-Way wheelchair securement system.


30School Transportation News • AUGUST 2017 CELEBRATING25YEARS


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