PEACH COUNTY, Ga. — Central Georgia is buckling up to welcome students back to school.
Blue Bird is helping them prepare to safely bus students to and from school with the rollout of new advancements on their next generation of busses. Blue Bird President Britton Smith said their electric models are eco-friendly.
"It helps to bring clean air for students to breathe," Smith said.
Though the bus retails at $350,000 compared to a $100,000 diesel bus, Smith said electric models are also budget-friendly.
"They're lower operating costs so a school district operating electric buses can cut their fuel costs significantly," Smith said.
Blue Bird donated one of the models to Peach County Schools in December 2023, with upgraded safety measures.
Smith said their focus is to keep up with the safety needs of schools.
"Stability control, collision avoidance, making the bus brighter, including LED lighting, and lighting school bus signs that type of thing," Smith said.
He said the electric buses are safer, for students and drivers.
"A diesel bus that is rumbling down the street, a bus driver has challenges hearing children on the bus and outside the bus so an electric bus - because it's quieter - it enhances those safety features," Smith said.
Buckling up on the buses will look a little different.
"The most important thing is that were adding three point safety belts, something that has not been standard on school busses since the origin," Smith said.
Smith said the company doesn't have plans to fully electrify its models and will continue to produce propane and diesel models. He adds the company plans to add driver air bags to its future models.
The company is also getting ready to expand and add another electric bus manufacturing plant at the Fort Valley factory.