School districts across California are taking advantage of generous state funding initiatives to replace aging diesel powered fleets with all-electric school buses powered by Motiv Power Systems. Creative Bus Sales, the nation’s leading bus dealer, took purchase orders for eighteen new zero-emissions Starcraft eQuest XL school buses, slated for delivery to districts throughout the state this fall.

“With more than 400,000 Motiv powered all-electric miles to date, we are thrilled to see more schools taking advantage of zero-emission school buses,” said Motiv founder and CEO Jim Castelaz. “The eQuest XL has been a proven performer, and is ideally suited for urban districts, so it isn't a surprise that it has been so well received. Offering both sales and service, Creative Bus Sales has been an excellent partner for us and we look forward to continue to show school districts how easy and affordable it has become for schools to transition their fleets off of fossil fuels.”

The eQuest XL school buses are built on the Ford F59-based Motiv EPIC 6 chassis. The CARB certified, all-electric buses provide a maximum capacity of forty-eight passengers and, with ninety miles of range, provide ample capacity to complete their routes on a single charge. The eQuest XL buses also sport flexible ADA seating that can be configured to accommodate up to eight wheelchairs for routes serving students with special needs.

“Ford, Motiv and Starcraft are a perfect match. They are each industry leaders, and together, have a track record of delivering reliable, consistent performance” said Joe Angeli, School Bus Sales Manager at Creative Bus Sales. “Schools prefer the all-electric Starcraft eQuest XL for its unparalleled driving experience and ability to navigate congested city streets, while providing a smooth, quiet and emissions free ride.”

Districts receiving Motiv powered school buses include seven Los Angeles districts (Los Angeles Unified School District, Covina-Valley Unified School District, Montebello Unified School District, Anaheim Elementary School District, Savanna School District, Coachella Valley Unified School, and Magnolia School District), Brawley Elementary School District in the San Diego region, and Gateway Unified School District in Redding California. These districts join those in Long Island, Sacramento, Kings Canyon and San Bernardino in transitioning to all-electric Motiv powered buses.

About Motiv Power Systems

Founded in 2009, and headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Motiv Power Systems is committed to freeing fleets from their dependence on fossil fuels. EPIC (Electric Powered Intelligent Chassis) are CARB certified, GSA approved, and available for many configurations including walk-in vans, box trucks, work trucks, shuttle buses, school buses, trolleys, and other specialty vehicles. An EPIC offers uncompromised performance and functionality without the pollution, noise, heat, and vibration of gasoline or diesel power. Motiv is a Ford eQVM-approved provider of all-electric chassis for commercial trucks and buses and benefits from engineering insights and support from Ford to ensure safety and reliability. With more than 400,000 miles logged in Fortune 50 fleet deployments throughout North America, the EPIC family eliminates 100% of vehicle emissions, dramatically reduces operating and maintenance costs, and creates a healthier environment for riders and communities, while also reducing driver fatigue.

About Creative Bus Sales

Creative Bus Sales is the nation's largest bus dealership, representing over 20 top manufacturers in multiple strategic locations across the country. Hundreds of units in stock allows Creative to offer fast delivery of new and used bus sales, online parts ordering, nationwide service, warranty, in-house financing, and alternative fuel conversions, including CNG, propane and electric. Visit CreativeBusSales.com or on social media: Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. Inquiries can also be directed to: 800.326.2877 or media@CreativeBusSales.com.

FOSTER CITY, Calif. — With two new purchases from Educational Bus Transportation Inc., along with new regional sales and field technician support, Motiv Power Systems continues to expand its presence on the East Coast as incentive programs and regulations create demand for all-electric school buses.

Educational Bus Transportation had previously deployed a Motiv powered Trans Tech eSeries Type A school bus in New York in 2014 and this new order comes on the heels of a deployment of thirteen Trans Tech electric buses to school districts in the Sacramento region this year. Motiv's bi-coastal expansion is supported by incentive driven demand in both New York and California as well as a regulatory climate accelerating the adoption of battery electric vehicles for school districts and other markets.

“Motiv Power Systems has proven to be a strong partner for us,” said John Phraner, President of Trans Tech. “With Ford approved technology on the E450 chassis, we are able offer an electric version of our popular and proven Type A school bus without the need to reinvent the wheel. Over the years, battery electric technology's reliability and performance has continued to improve, resulting in a proven and reliable bus. Motiv's increased East Coast presence further supports our confidence in Motiv's commitment to support our growing electric school bus fleet.”

“New York and California are both very attractive markets for battery electric vehicle applications,” said Kash Sethi, Director of Sales for Motiv Power Systems. “The regulatory climate, available funding programs, and population density to suit fixed route applications support fossil fueled fleets to make the transition to electric. As a company with headquarters in the San Francisco Bay Area, we've always had a strong presence on the West Coast. With growing demand for electric fleet vehicles, we are ramping up our East Coast footprint in 2018 and beyond.”

Based on the popular Ford E-450 and F-59, Motiv's Type A and C school bus chassis are eQVM approved by Ford and feature CARB certification for 50-state emissions exemption. In addition to electric school buses, Motiv's electric chassis are also utilized in electric shuttle buses, delivery trucks, walk in vans, trolley buses and other specialty applications. Collectively, Motiv powered vehicles have covered more than 400,000 real world miles to date from their U.S. deployments.

About Motiv Power Systems

Founded in 2009, and headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Motiv Power Systems is committed to freeing fleets from their dependence on fossil fuels. EPIC (Electric Powered Intelligent Chassis) are CARB certified, GSA approved, and available for many configurations including walk-in vans, box trucks, work trucks, shuttle buses, school buses, trolleys, and other specialty vehicles. An EPIC offers uncompromised performance and functionality without the pollution, noise, heat, and vibration of gasoline or diesel power. Motiv is a Ford eQVM-approved provider of all-electric chassis for commercial trucks and buses and benefits from engineering insights and support from Ford to ensure safety and reliability. With more than 400,000 miles logged in Fortune 50 fleet deployments throughout North America, the EPIC family eliminates 100% of vehicle emissions, dramatically reduces operating and maintenance costs, and creates a healthier environment for riders and communities, while also reducing driver fatigue.

About Trans Tech

Trans Tech manufactures industry-leading, Altoona-tested, Type-A school buses, Multifunction School Activity Buses and commercial buses.  Trans Tech offers the industry's only narrow-body dual-wheel along with a family of single and dual wheel models.  The company is known for its innovative and fuel-efficient conversion designs.  Trans Tech meets ever-changing customer demand with its Versa-Track seating system ranging from 9 to 30 passengers.  Trans Tech buses are tough and designed for safety with pan-formed floors and bolted safety-cages.  Trans Tech is bringing green solutions to the market with aerodynamic designs and its all-electric eSeries.

COMMERCE, Calif. — Establishing a leadership role in the mobile outreach electric vehicle market, Motiv PowerSystems is supporting the delivery of two new community-serving vehicles that eliminate diesel fuel expenses and exhaust emissions. The Oakland Library MOVe is a pop-up bookmobile providing access to books, technology, and innovative programming based on Motiv's EPIC4 Dearborn chassis. Meanwhile, a demonstration eBloodmobile, built in partnership with Winnebago Industries on Winnebago's renowned SuperStructure Interlocking Design platform runs on Motiv's EPIC6Dearborn chassis. Together, Motiv and Winnebago plan to release a variety of production model, all-electric mobile medical and dental units, as well as bookmobiles.

“Diesel exhaust emissions while idling remains a pervasive problem for mobile outreach vehicles aimed at serving communities, especially for our most vulnerable populations like children and medical patients,” said Jim Castelaz, founder and CEO Motiv Power Systems. “It's quite common for these vehicles to spend eight hours idling, in addition to running diesel generators, in order to provide the power needed to run electrical equipment and climate controls. An all-electric vehicle provides clean, silent, and vibration free energy to power on board equipment.”

All-Electric Mobile Blood Bank

Typically, mobile medical units powered by internal combustion engines (ICE), like mobile blood banks, spend eight gallons a day idling to provide services in the community. Given an average use cycle, an all-electric version can save up to roughly 34,000 gallons of diesel over the expected 10-year life of the vehicle – along with the associated tailpipe emissions. Currently, California is offering incentive savings of $110,000 per vehicle.

The demonstration eBloodmobile, built in partnership with Winnebago Industries, is the first production model of its kind. Similar to ICE mobile donation units (when equipped for deployment) it will feature four patient beds, two interview rooms, a small waiting area, and a small recovery area (commonly called the canteen). In terms of range, the eBloodmobile is designed to hold enough charge for eight hours of service plus round-trip travel to and from its home facility. This equates to approximately 75-125 miles of range. The eBloodmobile is capable of charging to half its full capacity in as little as two hours and 75 percent of capacity in just four hours.

This summer, the eBloodmobile is touring California on a roadshow to illustrate its zero-emission features directly to the state's medical and public services community. The first stop will be in the East Los Angeles town of Commerce, CA at the Wesley Health Centers – JWCH Institute on June 15th from 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. where demonstration drives will be offered. Future stops for the roadshow include locations in both northern and southern California including downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica, San Francisco and other locations.

Motiv and Winnebago plan to offer production models that can be adopted throughout the country.

Rethinking the Classic Bookmobile

Meanwhile, Motiv has also supported the Oakland Public Library to improve educational access for youth in underserved communities with the first all-electric multi-purpose bookmobile. Featuring side panels that open outward the truck expands to 31-feet long and 14.5-feet wide to create an atmosphere of an outdoor living room for the community. The Motiv EPIC powered bookmobile offers books, opportunities to work on laptops and tablets, electronic charging stations, WiFi hot sports, shade umbrellas, portable seating, and more. Currently in active service, the Oakland MOVe made its debut at the First Friday event at Oakland's City Hall on May 11^th at a formal ribbon cutting ceremony with Oakland Mayor, Libby Schaff.

“Our library staff and our whole community is so excited that this bookmobile is delivering a whole new type of environmental stewardship in our community. Not only is this an electric vehicle, but it is one that will carry books and information to get kids excited about why it is important that we use electric vehicles, and why cities like Oaklandshould be changing over our fleets and putting in more charging stations so that everyone can drive EVs,” said Oakland City Mayor Libby Schaff. “This vehicle is part of how we will achieve our goal of how to be diesel free by 2033.”

About Motiv Power Systems

Founded in 2009, and headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Motiv Power Systems is committed to freeing fleets from their dependence on fossil fuels. EPIC (Electric Powered Intelligent Chassis) are CARB certified, GSA approved, and available for many configurations including walk-in vans, box trucks, work trucks, shuttle buses, school buses, trolleys, and other specialty vehicles. An EPIC offers uncompromised performance and functionality without the pollution, noise, heat, and vibration of gasoline or diesel power. Motiv is a Ford eQVM-approved provider of all-electric chassis for commercial trucks and buses and benefits from engineering insights and support from Ford to ensure safety and reliability. With more than 350,000 miles logged in Fortune 50 fleet deployments throughout North America, the EPIC family eliminates 100% of vehicle emissions, dramatically reduces operating and maintenance costs, and creates a healthier environment for riders and communities, while also reducing driver fatigue.