Thomas Built Buses, a leading manufacturer of school buses in North America, launched the second-generation Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley battery-electric school bus. As the second iteration of its flagship electric school bus, originally introduced in 2017, the Jouley incorporates customer-driven improvements and technological advancements to create a product that excels in efficiency, performance and serviceability.

At the core of the second-generation Jouley is the 14Xe eAxle from Accelera by Cummins, the zero-emissions brand of Cummins Inc. This next-generation traction technology is backed by 25 years and one billion miles of real-world transportation experience. A compact, all-in-one power source, the 14Xe eAxle integrates the motor, two-speed transmission, disc brakes and rear-drive gear set into one package mounted on the rear axle.

It removes the need for a traditional driveshaft, making the drivetrain lighter, more efficient and reducing complexity. This design, coupled with Accelera’s ELFA inverter, delivers power directly to the wheels, enhancing acceleration and torque for a smoother ride.

The second-generation Jouley also is equipped with an 800-volt Proterra battery system that improves startability, gradeability and acceleration. The higher voltage along with the eAxle makes it ideal for diverse terrains, including hills and mountains. This upgrade also supports the integration of additional components like air conditioning, heaters and other essential features without compromising performance.

The streamlined design of the eAxle simplifies maintenance by reducing the number of moving parts and centralizing major components, which leads to lower service costs and improved uptime for school districts.

The second-generation Jouley electric school bus also features a new 12-by-12-inch toe board floor access panel that allows direct access to high-voltage junction box connectors without removing the battery packs. Additionally, the body heating loop surge tank has been relocated to the left side of the bus, providing even easier access and further simplifying maintenance tasks. These enhancements are designed to streamline diagnostics and repairs, enabling technicians to work more efficiently and get buses back on the road even faster.

The second-generation Jouley offers a new 219-inch wheelbase, a highly requested feature by customers that accommodates up to 60 passengers. Accelera’s eAxle enables shorter wheelbase architectures, significantly improving the overall maneuverability of the vehicle and making the bus suited for navigating tight spaces and fitting into service bays.

The new liquid-crystal display (LCD) digital dash aligns with current automotive technology, offering drivers a more advanced and intuitive interface. The LCD dash supports a wider range of visual information, including crucial diagnostics and operational data. The integration of more detailed information and animations compared to previous instrumentation makes it easier to operate the bus safely and efficiently. Future updates can be implemented through software alone, enabling Thomas Built to provide ongoing technological enhancements without hardware changes.

Production of the second-generation Jouley in the 219-inch wheelbase has already begun. Additional wheelbase options will be coming in 2025.