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

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Firm Groups Up With Xos and Morgan Olson to Construct Industrial Car Prototype on Class 5-6 Stripped Chassis

MACON, Georgia — Blue Fowl Company (Nasdaq: BLBD), the chief in electrical and low-emission college buses, will debut its electric-powered step van on the upcoming 2024 Superior Clear Transportation (ACT) Expo, North America’s largest superior transportation expertise and clear fleet occasion. The corporate teamed up with Xos (Nasdaq: XOS) and Morgan Olson to fabricate the prototype. Blue Fowl will showcase its groundbreaking zero-emission automobile and underlying stripped chassis on the commerce occasion from Could 20-23, 2024, on the Las Vegas Conference Heart, sales space 2470, in Las Vegas, Nev.

Blue Fowl builds on its practically century-long experience in class bus manufacturing to develop its zero-emission transportation options to the business automobile market. The last-mile supply step van and stripped chassis on show characteristic a 140kWh Lithium-ion battery. The batteries are mounted contained in the body rails for superior battery safety. The battery pack helps a automobile vary of as much as 130 miles on a single cost. It takes between one and twelve hours to completely recharge relying on the charging infrastructure.

Blue Fowl’s prototype relies on a 178” wheelbase for last-mile-delivery autos with a gross automobile weight score (GVWR) of as much as 23,000 kilos. The corporate makes use of light-weight supplies and parts for its revolutionary automobile platform maximizing automobile payload whereas persevering with to prioritize automobile security.

Blue Fowl presents a number of security options on its EV prototype not commonplace on comparable electrical autos to boost driver safety and familiarity. This consists of “hill hold,” which prevents the automobile from rolling backward or ahead when sitting stationary on a hill, and “electric creep,” which permits the automobile to slowly begin transferring from a cease when the driving force’s foot is faraway from the brake pedal to simulate a gasoline engine in gear. As well as, the Blue Fowl stripped chassis supplies 55-degree, best-in-class wheel lower to enhance maneuverability in tight city settings.

“In 2022, Blue Bird introduced its EV commercial chassis concept vehicle at ACT Expo,” stated Britton Smith, president of Blue Fowl Company. “This week, we will debut the operating prototype of our electric-powered step van at the 2024 ACT Expo that’s based on industry-leading EV technology. For nearly a century, Blue Bird has perfected its core capabilities of designing, engineering and manufacturing school buses from the ground up. Now we are one step closer to applying our world-class vehicle manufacturing expertise and expanding our electric-powered product range to the commercial vehicle market.”

Blue Fowl has partnered with Xos, a number one electrical truck producer and fleet electrification providers supplier from California, providing their experience gained from deploying a whole lot of zero-emissions business electrical autos since 2018. The powertrain expertise from Xos is a key characteristic in Blue Fowl’s step van. Moreover, this collaboration consists of Morgan Olson, a Michigan-based builder of labor truck our bodies, which is liable for offering the physique for the prototype. Morgan Olson’s work truck our bodies ship hundreds of thousands of parcels to companies and houses in North America day-after-day.

“We are honored that Blue Bird has chosen to entrust Xos with the technology to power its electric step van prototype,” stated Dakota Semler, CEO of Xos. “This collaboration is a testament to the reliability, efficiency, and innovation that Xos brings to the forefront of the commercial electric vehicle market.”

“We at Morgan Olson are looking forward to a productive collaboration with Blue Bird and Xos on the development of this step van prototype,” stated Mike Ownbey, president and CEO of Morgan Olson. “By combining the expertise of our industry-leading companies, we are confident that we can offer our existing and new step van customers a new chassis option that provides great value in the commercial vehicle market.”

Blue Fowl anticipates for its electric-powered stripped chassis to be commercially out there in late 2024. The corporate is the one U.S.-owned and operated college bus producer in america. As well as, Blue Fowl is the primary builder of electrical college buses in North America with greater than 1,500 zero-emission college buses in operation as we speak.

Blue Fowl may also characteristic its newest low- and zero-emission automobile applied sciences at ACT Expo. The corporate stays the confirmed clear transportation chief with greater than 20,000 propane, pure fuel, and electric-powered buses in operation as we speak. ACT Expo takes place from Could 20-23, 2024, on the Las Vegas Conference Heart in Las Vegas, Nev.

About Blue Fowl Company

Blue Fowl (NASDAQ: BLBD) is acknowledged as a expertise chief and innovator of college buses since its founding in 1927. Our devoted workforce members design, engineer and manufacture college buses with a singular concentrate on security, reliability, and sturdiness. Faculty buses carry essentially the most treasured cargo on the earth – 25 million youngsters twice a day – making them essentially the most trusted mode of pupil transportation. The corporate is the confirmed chief in low- and zero-emission college buses with greater than 20,000 propane, pure fuel, and electrical powered buses in operation as we speak. Blue Fowl is reworking the scholar transportation trade via cleaner power options.

About Xos, Inc.

Xos is a number one expertise firm, electrical truck producer, and fleet providers supplier for battery-electric fleets. Xos autos and fleet administration software program are purpose-built for medium- and heavy-duty business autos that journey on last-mile, back-to-base routes. The corporate leverages its proprietary applied sciences to supply business fleets with battery-electric autos which are simpler to take care of and extra cost-efficient on a complete value of possession (TCO) foundation than their inside combustion engine counterparts.

About Morgan Olson

Morgan Olson is North America’s main walk-in step van physique producer, with a portfolio of consumers serving many industries and supply purposes. The first sector these iconic work truck step vans serve is parcel package deal decide up & residence supply. Virtually every little thing ordered on-line is delivered each day by a Morgan Olson Stroll-In Step Van to hundreds of thousands of companies and houses. Different very important industries served embrace uniform rental and business laundry providers, baking and snack meals, metropolis municipalities, telecommunications suppliers, utility providers, and cell delicacies meals vans.

Press launch from Blue Fowl