Electric vehicle start up, SEA Electric has announced it has partnered with a major US vehicle component compay, Midwest Transit Equipment to secure a deal to update 10,000 school buses with battery-electric power-systems in the USA.
SEA Electric claims that it is the biggest deal of its kind to date, and says it has paved the way for ‘a zero-emissions future for children’s transport in North America’.
MTE, is one of America’s leading school bus dealers, and SEA Electric says it will be able to provide customers with a near new 100 per cent electric bus at a fraction of the cost of a new electric school bus.
The companies claim that the deal will cover both Type A and Type C school buses, with the deliveries scheduled over the next five years.
The buses will be powered by SEA Electric’s SEA-Drive power system, which it says currently powers buses and work trucks on four continents and six countries and which it claims have covered over a million miles of real-world use globally.
SEA Electric says it will power near-new fully electric buses and claims it will extend their service life by ten plus years.
The companies claim that the partnership promotes the ESG principle of secondary use, while reducing waste, eliminating diesel particulates and positively impacting the health and wellbeing of students.
SEA Electric said that each bus will have the ability to deliver full vehicle-to-grid capabilities, with the SEA-Drive power system able to feed electricity back into the power grid to improve stability when connected to a charging station.
The companies claim the partnership signifies a major step forward in reducing the carbon footprint of bus fleets, while also accelerating the industry to electrification at a desirable price point and say that two to three re-powered buses can be delivered at the same price as a new electric bus.
“This commitment is the most significant in this segment to-date. It not only illustrates the appetite for transition to 100% electric transport, it defines the point-in-time that the commercial vehicle industry transitioned to sustainable scale, without the need for incentives” – said SEA Electric founder and CEO,Tony Fairweather .
“This partnership will allow us to react to our customer’s needs more quickly and will compliment new bus sales. As the industry moves towards zero emissions we are positioned well with our SEA Electric partnership to be a leader of the electrification movement.” said John McKinney, president and CEO of Midwest Transport Equipment.
“The secondary use of school buses fitted with all-electric drivetrains makes a lot of sense; it keeps costs down, opens up considerable availability, creates green jobs right here in the US all while making a difference in the environment and the health of the communities we serve,” said Mike Menyhart, president – Americas and chief Strategy officer at SEA Electric.
