Blue Bird Delivers 100th Electric School Bus To California

The 100th fully-electric Blue Bird school bus was delivered to Alisal Union School District in Salinas, Calif. The school district received the bus from A-Z Bus Sales on March 27.

“Alisal is committed to a clean environment and to preserving our natural resources for our future generations,” said Jim Koenig, superintendent of Alisal Union School District. “The new 66-passenger Blue Bird bus will be a welcome addition to our fleet that will allow the district to discontinue use of a diesel bus that is over 20 years old.”

Blue Bird said its electric buses offer benefits such as reduced maintenance costs (because they do not require oil or transmission fluid changes as well as having fewer parts) and quieter operation.

“It is so encouraging to see districts like Alisal introduce electric into their fleets, and look forward to the cost and air quality benefits they experience in coming years,” said Mark Terry, chief commercial officer at Blue Bird Corp., Fort Valley, Ga.  “They should expect a remarkable, positive difference in their maintenance and fuel-cost savings.”

Districts such as Alisal bring these buses into their fleets with the help of grants and incentives provided by energy companies and clean air initiatives. “Alisal Union School District is grateful to the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District and Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP),” said Koenig. “This grant made this purchase possible for the district.”

A-Z Bus Sales has been assisting Alisal, among other districts, with to secure grants toward the addition of electric buses to their fleets for many years.

“We specialize in alternative fuel grant access and administration, and are excited to see that Alisal was able to secure a grant for this bus,” said John Landherr, president of A-Z Bus Sales, which has delivered all-electric school buses throughout California and Hawaii. “Alisal has also worked with us to build a service and training plan, to prepare their drivers and technicians for the road ahead with this new technology.”

Blue Bird said its dealer network is equipped to help school districts access the funding, the infrastructure, the training and the buses.