California-based dealership A-Z Bus Sales, Inc. celebrated a milestone this week. 

The company announced the delivery of its 1000th all-electric, zero-emission Blue Bird school bus, marking a significant milestone in California’s pursuit of sustainable transportation. 

The Blue Bird authorized bus dealer and former Dealer of the Year hosted a celebration on April 29 at Orange Unified School District, one of A-Z Bus Sales’ largest electric school bus customers in southern California.

Decades ago, A-Z Bus Sales introduced compressed natural gas (CNG) and propane-powered school buses, and now has deployed a significant number of electric buses. Its first electric Blue Bird bus, powered by Accelera/Cummins, was delivered in 2018.

Since, the company has expanded its services by creating a grants department to help districts secure funding, an electric vehicle infrastructure (EVI) department to manage charging needs, and an EV mobile support team to ensure quick repairs and maximized uptime.

“We’re proud to be at the forefront of the electric vehicle revolution in school transportation,” said John Landherr, president and CEO of A-Z Bus Sales. “The lessons we’ve learned along the way allow us to help school districts navigate challenges and confidently transition their fleets. At the end of the day, it’s incredibly rewarding to know we’re making a meaningful difference in the communities we serve and contributing to a more sustainable future for our children.”

The surge in demand for electric school buses has led to a 30% increase in A-Z Bus Sales' workforce, creating jobs in EV technician services, infrastructure engineering, and administration.

Over the lifetime of 1,000 electric school buses, more than 10,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases are expected to be reduced, along with a 33 metric ton reduction in NOx emissions, the company said. Districts also benefit from lower maintenance and fuel costs.

Innovative vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology allows these buses to provide additional grid support, enhancing future energy resiliency.

“We couldn’t have reached this milestone without the incredible support of our partners,” said Brandon Bluhm, COO of A-Z Bus Sales. “From our manufacturing partners at Blue Bird, Micro Bird, Accelera, and Ecotuned, to our collaborations with state agencies like the California Air Resources Board and the California Energy Commission, and the visionary school districts that have led the way—this success is the result of combined effort and shared commitment to a cleaner, greener future.”

“Congratulations to the entire A-Z Bus Sales team for marking its 1000th all-electric, zero-emission Blue Bird school bus delivery in California – a truly remarkable milestone,” said Albert Burleigh, VP of North America bus sales at Blue Bird Corporation. “For nearly half a century, A-Z Bus Sales has been our trusted dealer partner in the Golden State. We are grateful to all our friends at A-Z Bus Sales for playing an outstanding role in Blue Bird’s EV success story. Together we’ve helped school districts across the state to reduce harmful emissions, put student and community health first, and significantly reduce operating expenses.”

A-Z says that it has seen its electric buses excel in diverse environments, from cold, mountainous regions in northern California to the desert regions of the Imperial Valley, and they have outperformed their diesel counterparts in both performance and reliability, with range continuing to improve.