Blue Bird Presents its Latest Zero- and Low-Emission Commercial Vehicle Solutions at Work Truck Week
Blue Bird (BLBD) showcases its latest commercial vehicle solutions at Work Truck Week 2025, featuring two key innovations: a propane-powered Class 5-6 stripped chassis and an electric step van.
The propane-powered chassis, developed in collaboration with Ford and ROUSH CleanTech, features a 208-inch wheelbase, 23,000 pounds GVWR, and Ford's 7.3L V8 engine delivering 335 horsepower. The electric step van, built on a 178-inch wheelbase chassis, offers a 140kWh Lithium-ion battery with up to 130 miles range and 1-12 hour charging time.
Both vehicles feature 55-degree wheel cut and 23,000 pounds GVWR. The electric version includes enhanced safety features like hill hold and electric creep. Commercial availability is scheduled for Q1 2026 for electric and Q2 2026 for propane variants.
Blue Bird (BLBD) presenta le sue ultime soluzioni per veicoli commerciali durante la Work Truck Week 2025, mettendo in evidenza due innovazioni chiave: un telaio spogliato di classe 5-6 alimentato a propano e un furgone elettrico.
Il telaio alimentato a propano, sviluppato in collaborazione con Ford e ROUSH CleanTech, presenta un passo di 208 pollici, un peso massimo autorizzato di 23.000 libbre e il motore V8 da 7,3 litri di Ford che eroga 335 cavalli. Il furgone elettrico, costruito su un telaio con passo di 178 pollici, offre una batteria agli ioni di litio da 140 kWh con un'autonomia fino a 130 miglia e un tempo di ricarica di 1-12 ore.
Entrambi i veicoli presentano un angolo di sterzata di 55 gradi e un peso massimo autorizzato di 23.000 libbre. La versione elettrica include caratteristiche di sicurezza avanzate come il sistema di mantenimento in salita e il movimento elettrico a bassa velocità. La disponibilità commerciale è prevista per il primo trimestre del 2026 per la versione elettrica e per il secondo trimestre del 2026 per le varianti a propano.
Blue Bird (BLBD) presenta sus últimas soluciones de vehículos comerciales en la Work Truck Week 2025, destacando dos innovaciones clave: un chasis despojado de clase 5-6 alimentado por propano y una furgoneta eléctrica.
El chasis alimentado por propano, desarrollado en colaboración con Ford y ROUSH CleanTech, cuenta con una distancia entre ejes de 208 pulgadas, un peso bruto vehicular de 23,000 libras y el motor V8 de 7.3L de Ford que entrega 335 caballos de fuerza. La furgoneta eléctrica, construida sobre un chasis con una distancia entre ejes de 178 pulgadas, ofrece una batería de iones de litio de 140 kWh con un rango de hasta 130 millas y un tiempo de carga de 1-12 horas.
Ambos vehículos cuentan con un ángulo de giro de 55 grados y un peso bruto vehicular de 23,000 libras. La versión eléctrica incluye características de seguridad mejoradas como el control de pendiente y el movimiento eléctrico a baja velocidad. La disponibilidad comercial está programada para el primer trimestre de 2026 para la versión eléctrica y para el segundo trimestre de 2026 para las variantes de propano.
블루버드 (BLBD)는 2025 워크 트럭 위크에서 최신 상업용 차량 솔루션을 선보이며, 두 가지 주요 혁신을 특징으로 합니다: 프로판으로 구동되는 클래스 5-6 스트립드 섀시와 전기 스텝 밴입니다.
프로판으로 구동되는 섀시는 포드와 ROUSH CleanTech와 협력하여 개발되었으며, 208인치 휠베이스, 23,000파운드의 총 중량 한도(GVWR), 그리고 335마력을 제공하는 포드의 7.3L V8 엔진을 특징으로 합니다. 전기 스텝 밴은 178인치 휠베이스 섀시 위에 구축되어 있으며, 140kWh 리튬 이온 배터리를 제공하며 최대 130마일의 주행 거리와 1-12시간의 충전 시간을 자랑합니다.
두 차량 모두 55도 휠 컷과 23,000파운드의 GVWR을 특징으로 합니다. 전기 버전은 언덕 정지 및 전기 크리프와 같은 향상된 안전 기능을 포함하고 있습니다. 상업적 가용성은 전기 버전은 2026년 1분기, 프로판 변형은 2026년 2분기로 예정되어 있습니다.
Blue Bird (BLBD) présente ses dernières solutions de véhicules commerciaux lors de la Work Truck Week 2025, mettant en avant deux innovations clés : un châssis nu de classe 5-6 alimenté au propane et une fourgonnette électrique.
Le châssis alimenté au propane, développé en collaboration avec Ford et ROUSH CleanTech, possède un empattement de 208 pouces, un poids brut maximal de 23 000 livres et le moteur V8 de 7,3 L de Ford qui délivre 335 chevaux. La fourgonnette électrique, construite sur un châssis avec un empattement de 178 pouces, offre une batterie lithium-ion de 140 kWh avec une autonomie allant jusqu'à 130 miles et un temps de charge de 1 à 12 heures.
Les deux véhicules disposent d'un angle de braquage de 55 degrés et d'un poids brut maximal de 23 000 livres. La version électrique comprend des fonctionnalités de sécurité améliorées telles que le maintien en côte et le mouvement électrique à faible vitesse. La disponibilité commerciale est prévue pour le premier trimestre 2026 pour la version électrique et pour le deuxième trimestre 2026 pour les variantes au propane.
Blue Bird (BLBD) präsentiert seine neuesten Lösungen für Nutzfahrzeuge auf der Work Truck Week 2025 und hebt zwei wichtige Innovationen hervor: ein mit Propan betriebenes Chassis der Klassen 5-6 und einen elektrischen Step Van.
Das mit Propan betriebene Chassis, das in Zusammenarbeit mit Ford und ROUSH CleanTech entwickelt wurde, verfügt über einen Radstand von 208 Zoll, ein zulässiges Gesamtgewicht von 23.000 Pfund und den 7,3-Liter-V8-Motor von Ford, der 335 PS liefert. Der elektrische Step Van, der auf einem Chassis mit 178 Zoll Radstand gebaut ist, bietet eine 140-kWh-Lithium-Ionen-Batterie mit einer Reichweite von bis zu 130 Meilen und einer Ladezeit von 1-12 Stunden.
Beide Fahrzeuge verfügen über einen Lenkwinkel von 55 Grad und ein zulässiges Gesamtgewicht von 23.000 Pfund. Die elektrische Version umfasst verbesserte Sicherheitsmerkmale wie Berganfahrhilfe und elektrisches Kriechen. Die kommerzielle Verfügbarkeit ist für das erste Quartal 2026 für die elektrische und für das zweite Quartal 2026 für die Propanvarianten geplant.
- Expansion into commercial vehicle market beyond school buses
- Strategic partnerships with Ford and ROUSH CleanTech
- Product launch timeline confirmed for Q1/Q2 2026
- Maintains position as only U.S.-owned and operated manufacturer
- Supports 2,000 U.S. jobs
- Long wait time until commercial availability (over 1 year)
- Wide charging time variation (1-12 hours) may impact operational efficiency
- electric range of 130 miles may restrict some use cases
- Debuts Propane-powered Class 5-6 Stripped Chassis
- Presents Electric Step Van at Ride & Drive
Blue Bird presents its latest electric- and propane-powered commercial vehicle solutions at Work Truck Week 2025. The industry event takes place on March 4–7, 2025, at the
Propane-powered Stripped Chassis
Blue Bird premieres its propane-powered stripped chassis based on a 208-inch wheelbase for medium to long-range delivery vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of up to 23,000 pounds. The company utilizes lightweight materials and components for its innovative vehicle platform maximizing fuel-efficiency and vehicle payload while continuing to prioritize vehicle safety.
Blue Bird built on its long-standing collaboration with Ford Component Sales and ROUSH CleanTech to develop the propane-powered Class 5-6 stripped chassis. The vehicle platform features Ford’s proven 7.3L V8 engine. ROUSH CleanTech integrates Ford’s compact, durable and easy-to-maintain 335 horsepower engine into a low-emission powertrain option for Blue Bird’s propane-powered commercial vehicle platform.
The new propane-powered stripped chassis is on display at ROUSH CleanTech, booth 553.
Electric-powered Step Van
Blue Bird showcases an electric-powered step van based on its groundbreaking Class 5-6 stripped chassis at WTW25. The step van features a 178-inch wheelbase for last-mile-delivery vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of up to 23,000 pounds. The vehicle on display features a 140kWh Lithium-ion battery. The batteries are mounted inside the frame rails for superior battery protection. The battery pack supports a vehicle range of up to 130 miles on a single charge. It takes between one and twelve hours to fully recharge depending on the charging infrastructure.
Blue Bird offers several safety features on its electric-powered step van not standard on comparable electric vehicles to enhance driver protection and familiarity. This includes “hill hold,” which prevents the vehicle from rolling backward or forward when sitting stationary on a hill, and “electric creep,” which allows the vehicle to slowly start moving from a stop when the driver's foot is removed from the brake pedal to simulate a gasoline engine in gear. In addition, both the electric- and propane-powered stripped chassis provide 55-degree, best-in-class wheel cut to improve maneuverability in tight urban settings.
WTW25 attendees can experience Blue Bird’s new electric-powered step van at the Ride & Drive on March 5–6, 2025, from 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m. ET.
For more information on Blue Bird’s technology leadership and commercial vehicle transportation solutions, visit booth 571.
Blue Bird Leadership
“Blue Bird builds on its nearly century-long expertise in school bus manufacturing to expand its zero- and low-emission transportation solutions to the commercial vehicle market,” said Tim Gordon, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Blue Bird Corporation. “We are thrilled to present our advanced electric- and propane-powered vehicle platforms at Work Truck Week 2025 to help our customers improve vehicle fleet efficiency and cost.”
Commercial vehicle fleet operators using electric- and propane-powered step vans stand to benefit from energy and maintenance cost savings compared to diesel vehicles.
"Our longstanding partnership with Blue Bird highlights our dedication to delivering clean, efficient and sustainable propane autogas solutions for fleets," said Todd Mouw, executive vice president of sales, marketing and customer success at ROUSH CleanTech. "By leveraging ROUSH CleanTech's proven propane technology that has accumulated more than three billion miles with 3,000 fleets, we’re revolutionizing the commercial sector with reliable, low-emission step vans that reduce operating costs without compromising performance."
Blue Bird anticipates its electric-powered stripped chassis to be commercially available in the first quarter of 2026, with the propane-powered stripped chassis to follow in the second quarter of 2026.
Blue Bird is the only
About Blue Bird Corporation
Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer, and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world – 25 million children twice a day – making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 25,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses sold. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird's complete product and service portfolio, visit www.blue-bird.com.
About ROUSH CleanTech
ROUSH CleanTech, an industry leader of advanced clean transportation solutions, is a division of the global engineering company Roush Enterprises. ROUSH CleanTech develops propane autogas technology for medium-duty Ford commercial vehicles and school buses. With more than 50,000 vehicles on the road, the
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Media Contacts
Blue Bird
Julianne Barclay
TSN Communications
M: +1.267.934.5340
E: julianne@tsncommunications.com
ROUSH CleanTech
Gregg Voss
TSN Communications
M: +1.224.542.9530
E: gvoss@tsncommunications.com
Source: Blue Bird Corporation
FAQ
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