Grande West is also expecting the first electric buses, the Vicinity Lightning™, to be completed and ready to promote to customers in early 2021.
The vehicles will be used for university shuttle services and delivery is scheduled in the third quarter of 2021.
The bus manufacturing facility will be located in the State of Washington, aiding in the launch of Grande West’s Buy America compliant buses.
The design will allow it to fit into any standard transit garage with no major infrastructural electrical upgrades.
The BMW high voltage batteries developed for the BMW i3 will be used for the Vicinity LT EV.
The contract with Waterloo’s Grand River Transit is for four Vicinity buses, totaling to about $2 million.
Florida taps Xcelsior bus platform for statewide contract, while ABG nets order set to be delivered in 2020 and Santa Cruz refurbs buses.
The company will begin marketing the Vicinity LT immediately for delivery in January 2020.
Spartan Motors will manufacture Vicinity buses, which will continue to satisfy the FTA’s Buy America requirements.
Current total firm orders are for approximately 190 buses valued at over $49 million.