Blue Bird Introduces All-New Electric School Bus Solutions

Blue Bird unveils two new electric school buses at the 2017 STN Expo

RENO, Nev.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Blue Bird unveiled two new electric-powered school buses at the STN
Tradeshow to nearly 1,000 live attendees and hundreds more on their live
news feeds. Blue Bird introduced its all-new Type A Micro Bird G5
electric-powered school bus and then revealed its all-new electric
powered Type D chassis which will power its Type D All American rear
engine (RE) school bus.

This announcement comes on the heels of a $4.4M Department of Energy
grant awarded to Blue Bird in December of 2016 to develop a Type C
Vision electric-powered school bus. The company built its first
electric-powered bus in 1994 for deployment in Southern California as a
demonstration project. These new buses incorporate the latest
technological advancements in electric motors, batteries and control
systems.

“With diesel, gasoline, propane and CNG engines offered across our
product range, Blue Bird already leads the way in the breadth of
affordable engine offerings for our customers,” said Phil Horlock,
President and CEO of Blue Bird Corporation. “The addition of
electric-powered buses to our fleet is a further illustration of our
commitment to provide the broadest array of school bus products that our
customers want and value. With zero emissions, low operating costs and
terrific electric engine development partners in ADOMANI and EDI, we
believe now is a great time to bring these new electric solutions to the
market.”

Blue Bird chose to display the Type D RE chassis at the STN Expo so that
visitors could clearly see the powertrain and battery components. “The
body will be exactly the same as the All American RE model you currently
see on diesel units,” said Dennis Whitaker, Vice President of Product
Development at Blue Bird. “After the show, this chassis will immediately
be delivered to our design group in Fort Valley for body mount and to
enter the ‘test and validation’ phase. Start of production will be in
2018.”

The Blue Bird All American RE electric bus chassis was developed in
conjunction with California-based ADOMANI, Inc. and operates on an
energy-efficient electric drivetrain supplied by Efficient Drivetrains,
Inc. (EDI). The bus offers battery capacities of 100-150 kWh with an
expected 80-100 miles range from a single charge, depending on driving
habits. Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology is also under development for
this bus, which allows the bus to deliver electricity back into the
grid, allowing contractors and school districts to “sell back” energy to
power companies. This helps to reduce maintenance expenses and allow
users to experience lower fueling costs that will drive a lower Total
Cost of Ownership (TCO).

Additionally, a Type A Micro Bird G5 Electric school bus on a Ford E450
chassis, which touts a range of up to 100 miles in a single charge, made
its debut at the show. “The Micro Bird G5 Electric will be offered as an
integrated and certified solution that expands on Blue Bird’s market
leading school bus product line,” said Steve Girardin, President of
Micro Bird. “With 100 miles of range in almost all climates and
comparable performances with a combustion engine, we are particularly
proud that our Micro Bird G5 Electric will continue to further Blue
Bird’s leadership in the reduction of greenhouse gases.”

Both the Micro Bird G5 Electric bus and T3RE “All American” Blue Bird
bus will be available in 2018.

About Blue Bird Corporation: Celebrating its 90^th year
in business, Blue Bird (Nasdaq: BLBD) is the leading independent
designer and manufacturer of school buses, with more than 550,000 buses
sold since its formation in 1927 and approximately 180,000 buses in
operation today. Blue Bird’s longevity and reputation in the school bus
industry have made it an iconic American brand. Blue Bird distinguishes
itself from its principal competitors by its singular focus on the
design, engineering, manufacture and sale of school buses and related
parts. As the only manufacturer of chassis and body production
specifically designed for school bus applications, Blue Bird is
recognized as an industry leader for school bus innovation, safety,
product quality/reliability/durability, operating costs and drivability.
In addition, Blue Bird is the market leader in alternative fuel
applications with its propane-powered and compressed natural gas-powered
school buses. Blue Bird manufactures school buses at two facilities in
Fort Valley, Georgia. Its Micro Bird joint venture operates a
manufacturing facility in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada. Service and
after-market parts are distributed from Blue Bird’s parts distribution
center located in Delaware, Ohio. For more information on Blue Bird’s
complete line of buses, visit www.blue-bird.com.

About ADOMANI: California-based ADOMANI, Inc. provides school bus
and fleet operators with Zero Emission Vehicle and plug-in hybrid
solutions. ADOMANI brings together proven patented electric drivetrain
technology, customized products, and trusted service partners to cut
total cost of ownership, boost vehicle reliability, and unlock the many
benefits of green technology. For more information, visit www.adomanielectric.com.

About EDI: Efficient Drivetrains, Inc. (EDI) develops and markets
a range of state-of-the-art PHEV and EV drivetrain solutions worldwide.
EDI’s leading-edge hybrid-electric and electric drivetrain systems and
technologies enable OEMs to meet zero-emissions requirements while
providing significant cost and efficiency advantages across nearly all
platform classes and configurations. EDI is currently active in
automotive projects throughout North America and the APAC region. Visit www.efficientdrivetrains.com
for more information.

Contacts

Blue Bird Corporation
Justyne Lobello, 478-396-3487
[email protected]