Tuscumbia receives EPA program’s first electric school bus in Alabama

Tuscumbia City Schools is the first school system in the state of Alabama to receive an electric school bus from the EPA Clean School Bus Program.

All-electric school bus delivered to Tuscumbia

Birmingham-based Transportation South, Inc.—Alabama’s largest school bus provider—has joined forces with Thomas Built Buses—the industry’s largest provider of all-electric school buses— to deliver the bus on Thursday, December 7th at Deshler High School.

“We at Tuscumbia City Schools strive for the very best for our students, drivers, faculty and community. We are thrilled to be the first school system in Alabama to receive an electric school bus under the Clean School Bus Program and know this will equip us as we drive into the future.”

~Tuscumbia City Schools Superintendent Russ Tate

Tuscumbia joins 400 schools with new electric buses

Funding for the new bus comes from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s EPA Clean School Bus (CSB) Program.

Over the next five years, $5 billion is slated to be spent on replacing existing school buses across the country with zero-emission and low-emission models. Tuscumbia was one of nearly 400 schools nationwide that earned a grant to receive a new electric bus. The Northwest Alabama town was the very first order submitted to Thomas nationally.

Called the SAF-T-LINER® C2 Jouley Electric School Bus, the Thomas Built Bus is emissions-free at the tailpipe, noise pollution-free and fossil fuel-free. 

Some of the features include:

• Charges in two to three hours at a DC charging station
• Includes specialized battery packaging for increased safety
• Has up to 138-mile operating range
• Built with up to 220 kWh power

Goal — replace 500,000 diesel-fueled buses

The EPA Clean Bus Program aims to transition 500,000 diesel-fueled school buses across the U.S. to electric school buses. 

“Tuscumbia City Schools is a trailblazer. As Alabama’s exclusive Thomas Built Bus dealer, Transportation South is honored to help introduce the wave of the future – 100 percent electric school buses.”

~ Bucky Law, president and CEO of Transportation South

What do you think of electric school buses? Tell us what you think on social media by tagging us @thebamabuzz.