Warwick firm assembles first zero-emissions Type-A electric school bus

WARWICK — When Virginia C. Mazza-Loomis, executive director emeritus of Winslow Therapeutic Center, was successful in her grant request to purchase a 14-passenger bus for the non-profit organization, she was surprised that the company that was to manufacture the vehicle was located in Warwick.

Many local residents may not be aware that Trans Tech Bus, a division of Transportation Collaborative Incorporated, at 7 Lake Station Road, is a leading manufacturer of both conventional and environmentally friendly zero emissions electric Type-A school buses. The company, New York’s only school bus manufacturer, has dealerships in 33 states and Puerto Rico and is known for its innovative and fuel-efficient conversion designs.

Last fall, Trans Tech unveiled its eTrans electric school bus at the National Association of Pupil Transportation’s annual conference and trade show in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Trans Tech’s first electric school bus in the nation is now in production.

Charge to cover trips of 100+ miles

The vehicle has an aerodynamic design, 42-passenger capacity, and a 120 kw-induction motor, allowing it to reach speeds of up to 50 mph. And it has a trip range of approximately 100 to 130 miles per charge from its lithium-ion batteries depending on load and driving conditions.

The bus takes six to eight hours to recharge virtually anywhere with its onboard recharging system. A small auxiliary power unit, fueled by compressed natural gas or propane, powers the bus’s heat and air conditioning systems.

“This is an exciting time for us as we officially enter the electric vehicle market with our eTrans product,” said Dan Daniels, president of Trans Tech Bus. “The combination of our innovative school bus conversions and Smith Electric Vehicles’ world-leading all electric Newton chassis will ensure we are well-positioned at the top of the electric school bus market.”

Daniels said that the Smith Electric Vehicles Newton chassis is very energy efficient with electricity costs that are approximately 80 percent less than a comparable diesel vehicle.

Long-term savings Customers, mostly school districts, will also be able to realize significant reductions in long-term operational and maintenance costs since the vehicles operate without oil, transmission fluid, air or oil filters and the brakes last three times longer than a conventional bus.

“The eTrans,” he said, “are ideal for short, defined, repetitive routes. And an electric school bus with zero emissions generated from its chassis is great for our children and the environment. In addition, given that most school buses operate during the day, school districts and bus contractors will be able to take advantage of lower off-peak electricity rates by recharging their fleets at night when demand is at its lowest.”

Trans Tech Bus has launched its eTrans production pilot program and will begin full-scale production later this year.

“Our goal,” said Daniels, “is to work with Smith Electric Vehicles to meet customer demand by building safe, environmentally friendly school buses that are affordable, easy to use and do the job required of them.”

By Roger Gavan