Collins Bus, a subsidiary of Rev Group, on May 1 made its new zero-emission Ford E-Transit Type A school bus available for orders.

Introduced in March at NTEA's Work Truck Week in Indianapolis, the Type A school bus package features a fully electric powertrain with a 68 kWh high-voltage battery and an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty.

"Collins Bus is renowned for its commitment to driver and passenger safety innovation with unparalleled bus structure designs, driver visibility, and driver safety features," said Bryce Pfister, vice president and general manager of Collins Bus. "Now, with Ford's E-Transit chassis, this commitment expands to help keep the environment safe with zero-emissions technology."

In addition to zero emissions provided by the Ford E-Transit, the complete Collins school bus offers:

• A narrow-body design that allows for easy vehicle maneuverability

• The industry’s largest view-out window which reduces blind spots and enhances visibility

• An innovative structure featuring an exclusive one-piece tubular roof bow design for unmatched structural integrity

• A 5-year body warranty and limited lifetime paint warranty

“Ford and Collins Bus have a long history working together to provide mobility solutions for school systems, and now, we’re delighted to offer a more sustainable choice for their customers with E-Transit,” said Raj Sarkar, Ford Pro general manager of product marketing and strategy. “For use-cases with condensed routes, the Type A school bus package on E-Transit can be a great zero-emissions solution for student transportation.”

The automotive manufacturer described the new school bus package as a significant step toward greener communities. Ford Pro also works with dozens of schools and school districts already thinking through their charging infrastructure needs.

The Collins Type A school bus is offered on Ford’s T-350 single-rear-wheel E-Transit cutaway and is available with floor plans accommodating up to 12 seated passengers or 8 seated passengers and two wheelchairs.