Blue Bird Corporation, a leader in electric and low-emission school buses, is highlighting its latest zero- and ultra-low emission commercial vehicle solutions during NTEA’s Work Truck Week 2025. The company debuts its propane-powered Class 5-6 stripped chassis and its electric step van will be featured in the Ride & Drive.

Blue Bird's Propane-Powered Stripped Chassis

Blue Bird premiered its propane-powered stripped chassis based on a 208-inch wheelbase for medium—to long-range delivery vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of up to 23,000 pounds. The company utilizes lightweight materials and components for its innovative vehicle platform, maximizing fuel efficiency and vehicle payload while continuing to prioritize vehicle safety.

“Blue Bird builds on its nearly century-long expertise in school bus manufacturing to expand its zero- and low-emission transportation solutions to the commercial vehicle market,” said Tim Gordon, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Blue Bird Corporation. “We are thrilled to present our advanced electric- and propane-powered vehicle platforms at Work Truck Week 2025 to help our customers improve vehicle fleet efficiency and cost.”

Blue Bird built on its long-standing collaboration with Ford Component Sales and Roush CleanTech to develop the propane-powered Class 5-6 stripped chassis. 

The vehicle platform features Ford’s proven 7.3L V8 engine. Roush CleanTech integrates Ford’s compact, durable and easy-to-maintain 335-hp.engine into a low-emission powertrain option for Blue Bird’s propane-powered commercial vehicle platform.

"Our longstanding partnership with Blue Bird highlights our dedication to delivering clean, efficient and sustainable propane autogas solutions for fleets," said Todd Mouw, executive vice president of sales, marketing and customer success at Roush CleanTech. "By leveraging Roush CleanTech's proven propane technology that has accumulated more than three billion miles with 3,000 fleets, we’re revolutionizing the commercial sector with reliable, low-emission step vans that reduce operating costs without compromising performance."

The new propane-powered stripped chassis is on display this week in the Roush CleanTech booth during NTEA Work Truck Week 2025. 

Blue Bird's Electric-Powered Step Van

Blue Bird is showcasing an electric-powered step van based on its groundbreaking Class 5-6 stripped chassis during Work Truck Week 2025. 

The step van features a 178-inch wheelbase for last-mile-delivery vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of up to 23,000 pounds. 

The vehicle on display features a 140kWh Lithium-ion battery. The batteries are mounted inside the frame rails for superior battery protection. The battery pack supports a vehicle range of up to 130 miles on a single charge. 

It takes between one and twelve hours to fully recharge, depending on the charging infrastructure.

Safety Features Designed into EV Step Van

Blue Bird offers several safety features on its electric-powered step van not standard on comparable electric vehicles to enhance driver protection and familiarity. 

This includes “hill hold,” which prevents the vehicle from rolling backward or forward when sitting stationary on a hill, and “electric creep,” which allows the vehicle to slowly start moving from a stop when the driver's foot is removed from the brake pedal to simulate a gasoline engine in gear.

Designed for Urban Maneuverability

In addition, both the electric- and propane-powered stripped chassis provide 55-degree, best-in-class wheel cut to improve maneuverability in tight urban settings.

Commercial vehicle fleet operators using electric- and propane-powered step vans stand to benefit from energy and maintenance cost savings compared to diesel vehicles.

Blue Bird anticipates its electric-powered stripped chassis to be commercially available in the first quarter of 2026, with the propane-powered stripped chassis to follow in the second quarter of 2026.

Blue Bird is the only U.S.-owned and operated school bus manufacturer in the United States. The company remains the proven clean transportation leader with more than 25,000 propane, natural gas, and electric-powered buses sold. Blue Bird manufactures its school buses in Fort Valley, Georgia.

The shift to clean transportation helps the company sustain approximately 2,000 U.S. jobs.