Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Germany/High Point, NC, USA - Thomas Built Buses, a leading manufacturer of school buses in North America and subsidiary of Daimler Truck North America, announces the launch of the second-generation Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley battery-electric school bus. Originally introduced in 2017, the iconic Jouley is the brand’s flagship electric bus. More than 1.000 Jouley buses have been delivered to North American customers so far. The second generation Jouley comes with a new generation eAxle and a new versatile wheelbase option. 

Continuing the legacy of electric school bus innovation

A compact, all-in-one power source, the 14Xe eAxle from Accelera, the zero-emissions technology brand of Cummins Inc., integrates the motor, two-speed transmission, disc brakes and rear-drive gear set into one package mounted on the rear axle. It removes the need for a traditional driveshaft, making the drivetrain lighter, more efficient and reducing complexity. This design, coupled with Accelera’s ELFA inverter, delivers power directly to the wheels, enhancing acceleration and torque for a smoother ride. The streamlined design of the eAxle simplifies maintenance by reducing the number of moving parts and centralizing major components, which leads to lower service costs and improved uptime for school districts. 

The second-generation Jouley offers a new 219 inch (5,56 m) wheelbase, a highly requested feature by customers that accommodates up to 60 passengers. Accelera's eAxle enables shorter wheelbase architectures, significantly improving the overall maneuverability of the vehicle and making the bus ideal for navigating tight spaces and fitting into service bays. The second-generation Jouley is equipped with an 800-volt Proterra battery system that improves startability, gradeability and acceleration (battery capacity of 246 kWh, performance 220 kw / 295 hp).

Production of the second-generation Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley with the 219-inch (5,56 m) wheelbase at the Thomas Built Buses Manufacturing Plant in High Point, has already begun. Additional wheelbase options will be coming in 2025.

About Thomas Built Buses                                                           

Founded in 1916, Thomas Built Buses is a leading manufacturer of school buses in North America. Since the first Thomas Built bus rolled off the assembly line, the company has been committed to delivering the smartest and most innovative buses in North America. Learn more at https://thomasbuiltbuses.com or at https://www.facebook.com/thomasbuiltbuses.

Thomas Built Buses, Inc., headquartered in High Point, North Carolina, is a subsidiary of Daimler Truck North America LLC, a leading provider of comprehensive products and technologies for the commercial transportation industry. The company designs, engineers, manufactures and markets medium- and heavy-duty trucks, school buses, vehicle chassis and their associated technologies and components under the Freightliner, Western Star, Thomas Built Buses, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp and Detroit brands. Daimler Truck North America is a subsidiary of Daimler Truck, one of the world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers.

Learn more about the second generation Jouley electric school bus: Saf-T-Liner® C2 Jouley® Gen 2