Blue Bird Showcases Zero- and Low-Emission Commercial Vehicle Platforms at 2025 Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo
Electric-powered Step Van
Blue Bird showcases an electric-powered step van based on its groundbreaking Class 5-6 stripped chassis at the 2025 ACT Expo. The step van features a 178-inch wheelbase for last-mile-delivery vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of up to 23,000 pounds. The vehicle on display features a 140kWh Lithium-ion battery. The batteries are mounted inside the frame rails for superior battery protection. The battery pack supports a vehicle range of up to 130 miles on a single charge. It takes between one and twelve hours to fully recharge depending on the charging infrastructure.
Blue Bird offers several safety features on its electric-powered step van not standard on comparable electric vehicles to enhance driver protection and familiarity. This includes 'hill hold,' which prevents the vehicle from rolling backward or forward when sitting stationary on a hill, and 'electric creep,' which allows the vehicle to slowly start moving from a stop when the driver's foot is removed from the brake pedal to simulate a gasoline engine in gear. In addition, both the electric- and propane-powered stripped chassis provide 55-degree, best-in-class wheel cut to improve maneuverability in tight urban settings.
Propane-powered Stripped Chassis
Blue Bird also presents its propane-powered stripped chassis based on a 208-inch wheelbase for medium to long-range delivery vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of up to 23,000 pounds. The company offers an industry first, OEM-installed propane powertrain featuring Ford's proven 7.3L V8 engine. Blue Bird utilizes lightweight materials and components for its innovative vehicle platform maximizing fuel-efficiency and vehicle payload while continuing to prioritize vehicle safety.
Blue Bird built on its long-standing collaboration with Ford Motor Company and ROUSH CleanTech to develop the propane-powered Class 5-6 stripped chassis. ROUSH CleanTech integrates Ford's compact, durable and easy-to-maintain 335 horsepower engine into a low-emission powertrain option for Blue Bird's propane-powered commercial vehicle platform.
Blue Bird leverages ROUSH CleanTech's proven, ultra-low emission propane technology that has accumulated more than three billion miles with 3,000 fleets in North America.
Blue Bird Leadership
'Blue Bird builds on its century-long expertise in school bus manufacturing and vehicle safety to expand its industry-leading zero- and low-emission transportation solutions to the commercial vehicle market,' said Andy Moore, director of commercial chassis at Blue Bird Corporation. 'We are excited to connect with commercial vehicle fleet operators at ACT Expo and to discuss how our advanced electric- and propane-powered vehicle platforms can help them improve vehicle fleet efficiency and cost.'
Commercial vehicle fleet operators using electric- and propane-powered step vans stand to benefit from energy and maintenance cost savings compared to diesel vehicles.
"Since 2012 we've had a shared goal with Blue Bird to lower emissions and reduce costs for fleets through proven propane technology," said Todd Mouw, executive vice president of sales, marketing and customer success at ROUSH CleanTech. "As a domestically produced fuel, propane is economical, abundant, and reliable, offering immediate reductions in both costs and emissions without compromising performance."
Blue Bird anticipates both its electric-powered and propane-powered stripped chassis to be commercially available in the first quarter of 2026.
Blue Bird is the only U.S.-owned and operated school bus manufacturer in the United States. The company remains the proven clean transportation leader with more than 25,000 propane, natural gas, and electric-powered buses sold. Blue Bird manufactures its school buses in Fort Valley, Ga. The shift to clean transportation helps the company sustain approximately 2,000 good-paying U.S. jobs.
About Blue Bird Corporation
Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer, and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world – 25 million children twice a day – making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 25,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses sold. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird's complete product and service portfolio, visit www.blue-bird.com.
About ROUSH CleanTech
ROUSH CleanTech, an industry leader of advanced clean transportation solutions, is a division of the global engineering company Roush Enterprises. ROUSH CleanTech develops propane autogas technology for medium-duty Ford commercial vehicles and school buses. With more than 50,000 vehicles on the road, the Livonia, Michigan-based company delivers economical, emissions-reducing options for fleets across North America. Learn more at ROUSHcleantech.com or by calling 800.59.ROUSH.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
BMO Favors MongoDB (MDB) for Non-Relational Database Strength, Sets $280 Target
MongoDB Inc. (NASDAQ:MDB) is one of the best large-cap tech stocks to buy now. Although MongoDB's core strength as a modern, document-based database and cloud data platform is still intact, it has been facing growth headwinds recently, especially since the results for the fourth quarter of FY 2025 (FY ends in January), when it provided a weaker guidance. Its Q1 2026 results, reported on June 4, were a tad better. The company is aiming to secure larger enterprise deals, but questions around the durability of its growth trajectory persist. That said, on July 28, BMO Capital's Keith Bachman began coverage on MongoDB with an Outperform rating and a $280 price target. He views the company as a clear leader in the fast-expanding non-relational database market, underpinned by substantial technology advantages. A database administrator managing a large database, ensuring the client's data is secure. Bachman also believes that the company's potential to capitalize on the growing demand for generative AI workloads and applications could contribute meaningfully to the company's growth in the coming years. This long-term positioning supports his constructive opinion on the stock despite near-term uncertainty. MongoDB Inc. (NASDAQ:MDB) develops database software and provides database platforms for automating, monitoring, and deploying data. While we acknowledge the potential of MDB as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and 10 Most Oversold Semiconductor Stocks So Far in 2025. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Analog Devices (ADI) Sees Bullish Sentiment Backed by Sector Tailwinds
Analog Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:ADI) is one of the best large-cap tech stocks to buy now. In mid-July, Tore Svanberg, an analyst at Stifel Nicolaus, raised his price target on Analog Devices to $270 from $248 while reiterating a Buy rating. In his view, the prolonged inventory correction across the semiconductor sector over the past two years has likely reached its trough, setting the stage for a cyclical rebound. However, it is difficult to gauge how quickly the rebound will unfold. Within this report, Svanberg also communicated his broader sector outlook, which continues to favour AI-linked semiconductor names. He expects the AI-focused companies under his coverage to post median revenue growth of 32% in 2025 and 17% in 2026, thus underscoring the structural demand tailwinds in this space. Within that context, Analog Devices is seen as well-positioned to benefit from the upturn, supporting the case for maintaining an overweight stance in AI-driven chipmakers. On July 25, Christopher Danely from Citi had also published his latest report, where he maintained a Buy rating on Analog Devices, with a price target of $290. While analysts remain confident in the company, it is worth noting the positive perspective shared by Kovitz Investment Group Partners in its Q2 2025 'Kovitz Core Equity Strategy' investor letter. The firm cited several reasons for its long-term optimism on Analog Devices, including its leadership in key markets, robust 70% gross margins that help offset tariff impacts, and an irreplaceable talent pool of 11,000 experienced analog engineers. With the stock currently at an appealing valuation, Kovitz's portfolio managers believe that it offers a compelling opportunity for investors over the next five to seven years. The company is expected to report its Q3 2025 results on August 20. Analog Devices Inc. (NASDAQ:ADI) is a semiconductor company that designs, manufactures, tests, and markets a broad portfolio of solutions using high-performance analog, mixed-signal, and digital signal processing technologies. While we acknowledge the potential of ADI as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and 10 Most Oversold Semiconductor Stocks So Far in 2025. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
CoreWeave's AI Demand Surges But Expansion Spending Cuts Into Profitability
CoreWeave (NASDAQ:CRWV) shares tumbled on Wednesday after the AI-focused cloud computing provider posted mixed second-quarter results, highlighting surging revenue and backlog alongside margin pressures from an aggressive expansion plan. The company reported $1.21 billion in quarterly revenue, well above prior-year levels and fueled by new contracts with OpenAI and major hyperscalers, but investors reacted to guidance that signals significant near-term costs as CoreWeave ramps capacity toward 900MW by year-end. Stifel analyst Ruben Roy maintained a Hold rating on the stock, raising his price forecast to $120 from $115. HC Wainwright's Kevin Dede kept a Neutral rating, while Needham analyst Mike Cikos also maintained a Highlights Backlog and Revenue Strength Roy said CoreWeave delivered strong second-quarter results, surpassing revenue and adjusted operating income estimates on continued compute demand despite power constraints. He noted that the backlog rose to about $30.1 billion, bolstered by a $4 billion OpenAI expansion and new hyperscaler contract wins likely tied to Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META), and/or Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google. Another expansion is set to benefit the third quarter. Roy called guidance 'mixed,' with third-quarter and full-year 2025 revenue outlooks above consensus but margins below expectations due to management conservatism. He projected third-quarter revenue of $1.28 billion and full-year 2025 revenue of $5.25 billion, alongside adjusted operating income of $175 million for the third quarter and $815 million for the year. His model factors elevated interest expense from recent debt raises, reaffirmed a $21.5 billion fiscal 2025 CapEx target to reach 900MW capacity, and potential ~10% dilution from the pending Core Scientific (NASDAQ:CORZ) acquisition. HC Wainwright Notes Blockbuster Q2 Performance Dede said CoreWeave delivered a 'blockbuster' second quarter, with revenue climbing 23.5% sequentially to $1.213 billion, well above his $1.063 billion forecast, driven by AI adoption across consumer and enterprise markets. He pointed to a 16% sequential jump in backlog to $30.1 billion, fueled by a $4 billion OpenAI extension and a new hyperscaler deal. He noted that CoreWeave expects to expand capacity from 470MW to 900MW by year-end, with 2.2GW contracted. Dede raised his fiscal 2025 sales estimate to $5.154 billion from $4.942 billion, reflecting $150 million in second-quarter outperformance and management's 4%–7% sequential growth guidance for the third quarter. He kept his fiscal 2026 forecast at $11.2 billion. He noted AI integration becoming mandatory for competitive enterprises and highlighted CoreWeave's new wins with Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) and Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS). Needham Emphasizes Backlog and Capacity Buildout Cikos said CoreWeave delivered a second straight quarter of substantial upside, beating his second-quarter revenue estimate of $1.09 billion with $1.21 billion and exceeding his adjusted operating income forecast of $163.6 million with $199.8 million. Management guided third-quarter revenue 2% above Street expectations at the midpoint. In contrast, full-year revenue guidance of $5.15 billion to $5.35 billion raised the midpoint by $250 million, well above the second-quarter beat of about $130 million. Cikos noted management's plan to exit 2025 with more than 900MW of active power, up roughly 90% from the second quarter's 470MW, with capital expenditures of $20 billion to $23 billion serving as a strong leading indicator for future revenue but a near-term margin headwind. He highlighted the growing backlog, up 86% year-over-year to $30.1 billion, supported by the $11.9 billion OpenAI deal, a $4 billion OpenAI expansion, and another hyperscaler contract to be reflected in third-quarter results. Cikos projected fiscal 2025 revenue of $5.1 billion and adjusted operating income of $821 million, and he flagged execution and supplier risks tied to the significant capacity buildout. Price Actions: CRWV stock is trading lower by 18.92% to $120.61 at last check Wednesday. Photo by JackPress via Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? COREWEAVE (CRWV): Free Stock Analysis Report This article CoreWeave's AI Demand Surges But Expansion Spending Cuts Into Profitability originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
