Blue Bird Debuts Electric Step Van at 2024 Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo

Blue Bird Corporation (Nasdaq: BLBD), the leader in electric and low-emission school buses, will debut its electric-powered step van at the upcoming 2024 Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo, North America’s largest advanced transportation technology and clean fleet event. The company teamed up with Xos (Nasdaq: XOS) and Morgan Olson to manufacture the prototype. Blue Bird will showcase its groundbreaking zero-emission vehicle and underlying stripped chassis at the trade event from May 20-23, 2024, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, booth 2470, in Las Vegas, Nev.

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Blue Bird will debut the operating prototype of an electric-powered step van and underlying stripped chassis at the 2024 Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo on May 20-23, 2024, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Blue Bird teamed up with Xos and Morgan Olson to build the prototype of the groundbreaking last-mile delivery commercial vehicle. (Image provided by Blue Bird Corporation)

Blue Bird builds on its nearly century-long expertise in school bus manufacturing to expand its zero-emission transportation solutions to the commercial vehicle market. The last-mile delivery step van and stripped chassis on display feature a 140kWh Lithium-ion battery. The batteries are mounted inside the frame rails for superior battery protection. The battery pack supports a vehicle range of up to 130 miles on a single charge. It takes between one and twelve hours to fully recharge depending on the charging infrastructure.

Blue Bird’s prototype is based on a 178” wheelbase for last-mile-delivery vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of up to 23,000 pounds. The company utilizes lightweight materials and components for its innovative vehicle platform maximizing vehicle payload while continuing to prioritize vehicle safety.

Blue Bird offers several safety features on its EV prototype not standard on comparable electric vehicles to enhance driver protection and familiarity. This includes “hill hold,” which prevents the vehicle from rolling backward or forward when sitting stationary on a hill, and “electric creep,” which allows the vehicle to slowly start moving from a stop when the driver's foot is removed from the brake pedal to simulate a gasoline engine in gear. In addition, the Blue Bird stripped chassis provides 55-degree, best-in-class wheel cut to improve maneuverability in tight urban settings.