Trans Tech Unveils eTrans Electric School Bus at the NAPT show in Cincinnati

  Published on December 14th, 2011

Trans Tech unveiled its eTrans electric school bus to a packed house at the National Association of Pupil Transportation’s annual conference and trade show in Cincinnati, Ohio at the Duke Energy Convention Center on October 23^rd.

Trans Tech and Smith Electric Vehicles of Kansas City Missouri have teamed up through an exclusive agreement for the production of Trans Tech’s eTrans product.  Trans Tech Bus built its first fully functional eTrans prototype at its manufacturing facility in Warwick, NY on a Smith Electric Vehicles zero emissions all electric Newton chassis.

(PHOTO: Left to right, John Corr, Dan Daniels and Bart Marksohn of Trans Tech Bus stand in front of the eTrans by Trans Tech Bus, the first electric Type-A school bus, at the Trans Tech Bus trade show booth at the NAPT conference in Cincinnati, Ohio on October 23^rd)

A select group of invited guests and media were invited be the first people to witness and ride the first-in-the-nation 42 passenger Type-A electric school bus being offered by Trans Tech.

“This is an exciting time for Trans Tech as we officially enter the electric vehicle market with our eTrans product,” said Dan Daniels, President of Trans Tech.  “The combination of our innovative school bus conversions and Smith Electric Vehicles’ world-leading all electric Newton chassis will ensure we are well positioned at the top of the electric school bus market.”

Branded the eTrans, Trans Tech’s first electric school bus will have an aerodynamic design, 42 passenger capacity, and 120kw induction motor allowing it to reach speeds of up to 60 mph.  The eTrans will have a trip range of approximately 120 miles per charge from its lithium-ion batteries depending on load and driving conditions.  The bus will take 6 to 8 hours to recharge with the ability to recharge virtually anywhere with its onboard recharging system.  The eTrans will include an optional small auxiliary power unit fueled by compressed natural gas or propane that will power the school bus’s heat and air conditioning systems.

Trans Tech is working with industry stakeholders to ensure that the eTrans is priced competitively with conventional school buses to ensure its customers will be able to realize significant reductions in long-term operational and maintenance costs.

“The eTrans will be ideal for short, defined, repetitive routes,” said Daniels. “An electric school bus with zero emissions generated from its chassis is great for our children and the environment.  In addition, given that most school buses operate during the day, school districts and contractors will be able to take advantage of lower off-peak electricity rates by recharging their fleets at night when demand is at its lowest.”

Trans Tech will launch its eTrans production pilot program in early 2012 allowing a select group of customers to purchase the eTrans bus before the company begins full-scale production of the bus sometime around late 2012.

Daniels concluded, “As the market for alternative fuel Type-A school buses continues to take shape there will be an endless array of innovative solutions that will continue to make electric school buses an exciting alternative to gas and diesel powered buses.  Our goal at Trans Tech is to work with Smith Electric Vehicles to meet customer demand by building safe, environmentally-friendly school buses that are affordable, easy to use and do the job required of them.”

The eTrans announcement in Cincinnati garnered extensive coverage from television, radio, print and online media from across the country and abroad.  Some of the outlets covering the unveiling of the eTrans included National Public Radio (NPR), Fox News, ABC, CBS, and industry publications nationally and abroad.

About Trans Tech: Trans Tech is a manufacturer of industry-leading conventional and environmentally-friendly electric Type-A school buses. Offering single and dual wheel models, Trans Tech is known for its innovative and fuel-efficient conversion designs.  With a wide array of versatile floor plans the company is able to meet ever-changing customer demand.  Trans Tech is helping bring green solutions to the school bus industry by introducing the eTrans — a zero emissions Type-A school bus.  Trans Tech is a division of Transportation Collaborative Incorporated located near the New York metropolitan area in Warwick, NY and New York’s only school bus manufacturer.