Daimler Truck's subsidiary, Thomas Built Buses, has unveiled the second generation Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley battery-electric school bus for the North American market. The first generation model arrived in 2017 and, since then, over 1,000 examples have been delivered to customers to date.
[Related: Illinois Gov 'disappointed' in struggling Lion Electric, blames Trump]
What's new with the Jouley? The biggest and most relevant changes are a next generation eAxle and a versatile wheelbase option.
The Accelera-sourced 14Xe eAxle integrates the motor, two-speed transmission, disc brakes, and rear-drive gear set into a single unit mounted on the rear axle. This updated design eliminates the need for a traditional driveshaft which in turn allows for a lighter and more efficient drivetrain.
Power, with assistance from the also Accelera-supplied inverter, is routed directly to the wheels for improved acceleration and torque. In short, the Jouley now has fewer moving parts and a centralization of critical components that allows school districts to save on service costs and improved uptimes.
As for the wheelbase, the Jouley now offers a 219-inch layout, which has been in high demand because it seats up to 60 passengers. Having a shorter wheelbase also improves overall handling and maneuverability. The OEM has confirmed additional wheelbase size options will be available later this year.
Power comes courtesy of an 800-volt Proterra battery system which, according to the manufacturer, improves the start function, gradeability and acceleration thanks to having a total of 295 horsepower on tap and battery capacity of 246 kWh.
Production of the C2 Jouley is already underway at the Thomas Built Buses Manufacturing Plant in High Point, North Carolina.
