The LionA looks like a transit-style bus, but in fact it is the latest electric option in the Type A market.
the minibus, despite budgetary pressures made worse by COVID-19. “Each district has different needs, and it is hard to generalize any trend, but we are seeing high interest for the LionA in the market,” he com- mented. “One of the benefits of the LionA is that it is purpose-built with a unique form factor, so we are seeing interest due to the fact that it is uniquely different to anything else on the market.” He said a fully integrated chassis means no motor or battery packag- ing limitations within the frame rails. “It allows us to optimize vehicle
layout,” he added. “When you are putting a body on top of someone else’s electric platform or retrofit- ting an existing chassis to convert it to electric, there are certain con- straints that you are stuck with.” Alexander said Lion’s monocoque chassis allows for new layout possi- bilities. “This is in part because the electric motor is centrally mounted in the chassis, rather than taking up valuable cabin space in the front or rear of the vehicle, and the batteries can also be placed to optimize weight distribution,” he explained. “This has the added benefit of opening up the cabin so that the driver has a better view of the road and the interior.” The LionA also includes a tracked
seating system for customizable seating configurations. Collins Bus and Trans Tech,
meanwhile, build their bodies on
a converted Ford E-450 chassis via powertrain supplier Motiv Power Systems. A spokeswoman for Motiv told STN that the fifth-generation E-450 chassis that powers the Col- lins and Trans Tech electric buses has 30-percent fewer components while also improving range, accel- eration and top speed. Representatives at Trans Tech did
not respond to multiple requests for comment But Chris Hiebert, the vice
president and general manager for Collins, shared that Motiv’s embrace of the BMV lithium-ion battery as well as the continued flow of grants has resulted in new interest from customers, especially those in Cal- ifornia. He said Collins has already sold a dozen electric buses and at least 60 quotes had been requested as of late January. “Funding has been relatively un-
affected by COVID-19,” he observed. “Think of the differentiation on the body rather than the drive train. There is more emerging competi- tion. For us, we’re going to stand on our own merits.” Collins still sells the vast majority
of its buses powered by the Chevy gasoline package, and the other Type A companies (aside from Lion) also continue to predominantly build on Chevy or Ford gasoline chassis. But as CNG interest “com- pletely dropped off” and with no current propane option—follow-
46 School Transportation News • MARCH 2021
Another Type A trend has been consolidation.
Starcraft left the segment last
year after parent company Forest
River, Inc., acquired the Champion Bus and ElDorado shuttle bus brands from REV Group, the parent company of Collins Bus. A term of the deal stipulated that
Starcraft would give up its school bus models.
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