School Bus Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Thomas Built, Proterra Celebrate Million Miles Traveled

The milestone comes with 300 zero-emission Thomas Built electric buses serving school districts across North America.

Thomas Built, Proterra Celebrate Million Miles Traveled

The Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley, powered by Proterra, can provide up to 135 miles of drive range using 226 kWh of onboard energy.

Photo: Thomas Built Buses

2 min to read


Thomas Built Buses and Proterra Inc. struck a milesone with Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley electric school buses, which have driven more than one million miles for school districts across North America. With more than 300 electric school buses on the road, this announcement represents a major operational milestone just as historic federal funding, like the EPA’s Clean School Bus program, becomes available to drive adoption of zero-emission school buses in the United States.

“Reaching one million miles with our C2 Jouley is a testament to our commitment to sustainable transportation and the continued success of our best-in-class electric product and partnership with Proterra,” said Nick Rini, director of the Freightliner Specialty Vehicles eMobility Group. “Together, we are paving the way for a cleaner and more efficient future for our kids, communities and the transportation industry.”

Ad Loading...

TBB and Proterra offer school bus operators a comprehensive, turn-key electric vehicle program that includes EV planning and funding consultation, electric school buses, charging systems, and charging infrastructure design and installation. The Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley couples 226 kWh of onboard energy from Proterra Powered’s industry-leading battery technology to offer up to 135 miles of drive range to meet the needs of school bus fleets.

“Surpassing one million miles driven by Proterra Powered electric school buses is a major achievement on the road to an all-electric, emissions-free future,” said Chris Bailey, president of Proterra Powered & Energy.

More Alternative Fuels

School Bus Fleet graphic showing two yellow electric school buses parked beside a charging station, with the headline “Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Extend Clean School Bus Program Through 2031.”
Alternative Fuels•by Elora Haynes•October 14, 2026

Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Extend Clean School Bus Program Through 2031

The proposed legislation would renew federal support for cleaner school buses as districts navigate funding uncertainty, rising fuel and infrastructure costs, and fleet replacement needs.

Read More →
School Bus Fleet graphic reading “Alt-Fuel Moves: Bidirectional Charging & Propane” alongside an electric school bus and charging station.
Alternative Fuels•by Elora Haynes•October 5, 2026

Alt-Fuel Moves: Electric Bus Rollouts, Bidirectional Charging & Propane Growth

See which fleets are adding electric and propane school buses as districts and operators invest in charging infrastructure, bidirectional technology, and alternative-fuel expansion.

Read More →
School Bus Fleet graphic reading “When Fuel Prices Change the Math: What rising diesel costs mean for fleet planning,” illustrated with a fuel pump and oil barrels.
Alternative Fuels•by Steve Mitchell•October 4, 2026

Nobody Told Diesel Prices They Were Supposed to Come Down

With diesel prices surging, school bus fleets have new reason to stress-test fuel costs, consider diversification, and calculate what each route really costs to operate.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Yellow full-size school bus traveling along a tree-lined road beneath the words “Gas is Back!” in a School Bus Fleet graphic.
Alternative Fuels•Cover Story•by Amanda Huggett•October 2, 2026

Why Gasoline School Buses Are Making a Comeback

Gasoline is gaining ground in full-size school buses. See how today’s options stack up against diesel on cost, maintenance, emissions, performance, and more.

Read More →
EPA DERA funding graphic featuring a yellow school bus beneath a blue sky with the EPA logo and the words “DERA Funding Returns!”
Alternative Fuels•by Amanda Huggett•September 25, 2026

EPA Opens $180M DERA Funding Round for Diesel Upgrades

The 2026 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act program seeks applications from eligible organizations to accelerate the retirement of legacy diesel vehicles.

Read More →
A yellow RIDE Type D electric school bus is parked along a tree-lined street outside a school.
Alternative Fuels•by Elora Haynes•September 25, 2026

The Secret Life of an Electric School Bus Battery

Batteries change throughout years of daily routes, but degradation doesn’t necessarily mean the end. Here’s what operators should know about performance, safety, and second life.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Catalyst Mobility: Building Clean Transportation Together
Management•by Alex Roman•September 14, 2026

CALSTART and Forth Combine to Form Catalyst Mobility

The new name represents a renewed vision for the nonprofit focused on advancing clean, equitable, and affordable transportation solutions that move people and goods.

Read More →
An orange and yellow graphic with a black and white image of a propane deployment event with text reading "Charging Hubs & Real World EV Testing."
Alternative Fuels•by Elora Haynes•September 3, 2026

Alt-Fuel Moves: New Buses, Charging Hubs & Real-World EV Testing

Propane and electric school bus deployments continue to grow as districts add new vehicles, expand charging infrastructure, and gather more real-world operating data.

Read More →
Electric school buses parked in a parking lot.
Alternative Fuels•by Elora Haynes•August 24, 2026

Fewer Electric School Bus Models Reshape the U.S. Market

WRI’s latest buyer’s guide points to a consolidating electric school bus market, but fewer options may reflect a maturing industry rather than fewer meaningful choices for school bus operators.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A yellow school bus with its red stop arm extended is stopped to load or unload students as a blurred child crosses in the foreground, illustrating the importance of motorists stopping for school buses and protecting students in the loading zone.
Alternative Fuels•August 12, 2026

The Fuel Budget You Can Actually Predict: How Propane Autogas Keeps Money in the Classroom

Learn how propane autogas helps school districts manage fuel costs with predictable pricing, lower maintenance, and reduced emissions from former transportation director Joel Stutheit.

Read More →