Meritor Inc. will provide its Blue Horizon 14Xe integrated ePowertrain for the next generation, all-electric Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley school bus from Thomas Built Buses (TBB), a Daimler Trucks North America brand (DTNA).
This is Meritor's first electric vehicle production award with a DTNA nameplate. The intended agreement will span five years and is expected to start in January 2024.
"Being selected by Daimler Trucks North America to supply zero-emission electric propulsion for its next-generation school buses is especially gratifying," said John Nelligan, SVP and president, Truck, Americas at Meritor. "This is an exciting opportunity to expand our relationship with DTNA."
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"The versatility and robustness of the integrated 14Xe ePowertrain is a great complement to the next-gen, all-electric Jouley from Thomas Built," said Kendra Eads, VP of engineering and technology at TBB. "We look forward to working closely with our colleagues at Meritor on integration of the 14Xe and delivering even greater efficiencies for school districts across the country."
Meritor's 14Xe ePowertrain system is in full production starting this month and is suitable for a range of commercial vehicle applications across Classes 5-8.
The 14Xe ePowertrain is a fully integrated, all-electric drive system and is the only integrated electric powertrain in production for Class 8 vehicles in North America. To promote the launch, Meritor is debuting an all-new video production titled "The Road Ahead Is Blue."
"Our 14Xe ePowertrain has been thoroughly tested hauling loads and logging real-world miles in various conditions and multiple applications, allowing us to offer the industry a proven, all-electric, zero-emissions solution," said Chris Villavarayan, CEO and president of Meritor.
The 14Xe ePowertrain, produced at Meritor's manufacturing facility in Asheville, North Carolina, is designed to provide efficiency, performance, weight savings, and enhanced space utilization. It is based on Meritor's proven 14X axle housing, which maintains existing axle mounting hardware for OEM integration.
Based in Troy, Michigan, Meritor is a global supplier of drivetrain, mobility, braking, aftermarket, and electric powertrain solutions for commercial vehicle and industrial markets. Founded in 1916 and headquartered in High Point, North Carolina, TBB is a subsidiary of DTNA.
