Leslie Kilgore, vice president of engineering for Thomas Built, noted that while the electric bus is expected to carry a purchase price of about three times that of a diesel bus, grants and other incentives are being made available to bring it back down to a traditional cost.
Also, the electric bus is expected to significantly reduce operational costs for fueling and maintenance.
Jouley is named after the joule, a unit of energy. The bus provides 100 to 160 kWh of battery energy, with up to 100 miles between charges and an option for higher range with additional battery packs.
According to Thomas Built Buses, Jouely has quiet operations, zero emissions, and exportable power. Students riding the bus will be able to charge their computers and other devices directly from the vehicle.
Other Jouley features include PowerSuite vehicle control software and the PowerTracker telematics and diagnostics system, which tracks bus location and provides real-time monitoring of potential issues.
