“EV charging infrastructure is a complex aspect of deployment. However, depot charging can make things easier. This charging model is one reason school bus is tip of the spear when it comes to electrification.” -Trish Reed
of the TRATON Group, we can leverage scale which will allow us to accelerate our progress in the electrification space.
STN: Justina, this development hastened your return
to IC Bus as the new vice president and general man- ager. You mentioned recently your eagerness to return to the school bus industry as yellow continues to flow through your veins. What did you miss most?
Morosin: The school bus market is a small but close
industry responsible for transporting the most precious cargo. The people in this industry are what I missed and what I’m excited to come back to. I am also eager to help drive change. The transportation
industry accounts for a significant percentage of total emissions. IC Bus accepts the responsibility to lower the carbonization curve by advancing sustainable solutions. The school bus market is at the forefront of the EV move- ment, and there are many new and exciting things going on in an industry that hasn’t seen such attention before. It’s thrilling to contribute to something that is promising for future generations and serves a broader purpose.
STN: New purchase prices have skyrocketed for all types of school buses but certainly electric. Trish, what specifically do you attribute these higher costs to, and what’s necessary to bring them down?
Reed: Various unexpected changes continue to impact the industry. We know that supply chain disruption and inflation have impacted every product in every industry, and commercial vehicles are not immune to that infla- tionary pressure. It is simple economics of supply versus demand that will determine the future.
As the supply chain restructures and additional capac-
ities come online, we anticipate the need for suppliers to recoup the investments made before we will start to see some pricing relief on component cost. Additionally, although not all raw materials are recovering at the same pace, we are seeing some favorable price movements in the commodity markets. One of the costliest components in an EV is the bat-
tery. As we continue to see supply chain issues abate and inflation hopefully ease, technology also continues to advance. While upfront costs may be higher than tradi- tional diesel vehicles currently, as adoption grows and technology advances, the total cost of ownership (TCO) for EVs will prove to be more affordable in the long run.
STN: At the same time, the EPA 2027 emissions reg-
ulations figure to further impact the future of diesel for school buses, which have also been steadily increasing in price over the past decade and a half. Is IC Bus com- mitting to continued development? Or are all eggs being placed in the electric basket?
Morosin: IC Bus is committed to lead in safety and technology, and provide solutions that meet customers’ needs, both today and in the future. IC Bus has invested to ensure we are compliant with emissions regulations and we have a product offering to meet customer needs. When it comes to technology that meets emissions
regulations, there has been a heavy focus on electric vehicles, and we’ll continue to see investment for these technologies. We’ll see what the future holds for our industry. With
all the focus on new technology and regulations, will ev- eryone continue to maintain multiple powertrains? Time will tell. IC Bus is committed to climate change solutions
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