HIGH POINT, N.C. — Thomas Built Buses has delivered nearly 1,200 of its Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses equipped with the Detroit DD5 engine.

The Detroit DD5 engine is a 5.1L engine adapted specifically for the Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2. The engine is designed to provide a lower total cost of ownership and reduce consumption of both diesel fuel and diesel exhaust fluid, according to a news release from Daimler Trucks North America, the parent company of Thomas Built Buses.

“We have received extraordinary feedback on the DD5-equipped Saf-T-Liner C2s,” said Caley Edgerly, president and CEO of Thomas Built Buses. “Transportation directors are impressed at the power and efficiency of the four-cylinder engine. And in the coming months, districts will soon realize the decreased maintenance and overall cost savings. This back-to-school season is one that we’ve been looking forward to for a long time.”

Additionally, Daimler reports that the engine’s aftertreatment system does not have as much to process, resulting in fewer regen cycles and longer service intervals for the Saf-T-Liner C2.

The DD5 engine also comes equipped with the Detroit Connect Virtual Technician, a subscription-based remote diagnostic service that is free for the first five years. Detroit Connect transmits data to the engine supplier's customer support center to enable them to perform informed service decisions. Performance data is also tracked to provide insights into overall vehicle health, fuel economy, and safety performance.

For more information about the Saf-T-Liner C2 equipped with the new Detroit DD5 engine, customers can contact their local dealer.