News

You made the jump.

Electric buses are now part of your fleet. But with a new bus comes new questions. Near the top of that list is maintenance. How does electric compare to diesel?

The reality is there are plenty of similarities and also key differences. Electric school buses feature a simpler design made up of fewer components. This should lead to less frequent mechanical failures. Investing in electric results in a long list of cost savings, including maintenance.

One of the biggest differences between electric and diesel is the reduced amount of fluids. In particular, you can say goodbye to oil changes. As any fleet manager will tell you, scheduling and completing oil changes for an entire fleet is a consistent nuisance.

However, you’ll want to keep an eye on filters for the air compressor as well as the battery pack. And as with any vehicle, the major components will still need your attention:

• Brakes

• HVAC

• Power steering

With this in mind, annual servicing is recommended. If you need a little help, you can find a service center near you.

Diagnostics

The Saf-T-Liner® C2 Jouley® is equipped with technology that can make identifying maintenance easier. Comprehensive vehicle monitoring is available via telematics. This provides predictive, real-time diagnostics. When maintenance requires less guesswork, buses can get out of the garage and back onto the road in less time.

Training

In conjunction with its parent company, Daimler Truck North America, Thomas Built Buses offers a three-tiered training program called High Voltage Safety Organization (HVSO).

• HV1 equips drivers with general awareness and understanding of the electric bus

• HV2 focuses on safety for technicians who work on low-voltage vehicle systems

• HV3 addresses high voltage and de-energizing the vehicle

Currently, HV3 is only available to Thomas Built Buses dealers, such as Kerlin.

We look forward to offering classes in the future. To receive updates on when training is available, join the Kerlin email list.

If you have questions about new or used buses, contact us today. Our experienced team is here to help.