It's not easy to buy a bus, especially for the first time. It is a significant investment, there are many options, and the price range can vary a lot depending on the model you select. At Crestline, we won't try to push you a bus for sale with options you do not need. Instead, we promise to identify a bus that checks all your boxes. The starting point of the conversation is YOUR transportation needs. Your criteria and constraints will help you plan your investment and allow our sales experts to help select the right bus.
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How do you assess your criteria and constraints? We've identified 9 considerations to help you buy a bus; these are the critical questions to ask your organization before beginning the process of purchasing a bus for sale. Earn more time by downloading our 30-calibrated questions checklist to get the full experience and take a big step in your buying process. Those 10 minutes will save hours!
Start with the basics. You're looking at a bus for sale, but why? Is this for public transit? Is it for an airport shuttle? Is this to bring your residents to doctor appointments? It's easy to picture differences between these three buses: whether it is by the seating configuration, luggage storage, or areas reserved for people with disabilities. What about the drive? Do you offer long-distance trips or frequent short trips with starts and stops? What about the condition of the roads? Will you be driving on highways, rural roads, or urban potholes? These are examples of things that impact key components of a vehicle. It is essential to select a bus designed for its final use to increase the lifespan of the vehicle and reduce maintenance long term.
Offering transportation solutions is a big responsibility. People trust you with their life when boarding your bus. When researching a bus for sale, keep the final user at the center of your thinking. Safety, comfort, and configuration are important to ensure a secure and comforting means of transportation.
So, who are your passengers? How many do you want to transport at one time? What do they need? Answering those questions will help you determine the passenger capacity and the level of comfort you want to offer to your passengers.
Transporting seniors, people with disabilities, or with reduced mobility requires some specific arrangements. For example, did you know that the number of wheelchair positions impacts the size and structure of the bus itself? That is the reason why this question is crucial. Are you seeking a wheelchair-accessible bus for sale?
If yes, how many wheelchairs position do you need? Will you transport all the wheelchairs at the same time? How do you want people to access your vehicle: one-way for all or a rear door for a wheelchair lift? There are also two types of paratransit vehicles: high-floor buses and low-floor buses. There is more to consider when it comes to paratransit beyond ADA compliance.
Many storage options are available when you buy a bus. Luggage storage can be substantial depending on your business, the length of the bus trips you propose, or your client's needs. There are many storage options, from a simple book to a trolley to emergency medical equipment. Select models offer front or rear compartments, overhead luggage storage, bike racking, walker holders, and an underfloor storage compartment. Keep in mind the storage space you need may impact the size of the bus. So, ask yourself, what do your passengers bring with them? When do they need to access their things?
The transportation industry is transitioning to electric vehicles; there is no doubt. Electric bus options are expanding as models become more affordable and charging stations continue to pop up. Opting for an electric bus offers substantial savings on fuel and maintenance costs. But, are you willing to make the move? Purchasing an electric bus for sale as an early adopter may sound overwhelming. There are more things to consider about the bus itself and the ecosystem to support it. Contact your municipality for more information on fleet electrification initiatives such as infrastructure, subsidies, and support. Regarding the bus itself, you will need to consider your driving routes to estimate the driving range, the charging time, the battery capacity, and other specifications. Feeling overwhelmed? Contact our specialists; they are ready to help you navigate those questions as you investigate an electric bus for sale.
When it comes to the bus itself, some features are determined by your specific situation. It can be something basic, like a size constraint. For example, if you plan to have your bus parked in a garage or a repair shop, do you know what space is available to ensure it will fit? Other considerations like climate or route length may also impact features, such as the A/C component or type of driver seat selected.
There are endless customization opportunities for your bus. For example, do you want your bus to be on-brand with your logo? If yes, consider a custom wrap. Do you need informational stickers to be bilingual? Do you need to install a surveillance camera system? If you have specific requests, talk to us! We have an in-house team of Crestline engineers ready to support any customization.
Like every other vehicle, a bus needs maintenance and parts. So, if this is the first time you're looking to buy a bus, here are some things to consider. First, do you have a repair shop and a person qualified to do general maintenance on a bus? Does this person need some training? Do you already have a local shop service center you're dealing with? Do you know where to find parts? Answering those questions will help you identify where you will need help. If maintenance is a significant pain point for you, then consider buying a low-maintenance bus for sale. Talk to our specialist to ensure there is a certified technician in your area, ready to help you when you need it. At Crestline, we stand by our products and help our customers protect their investments.
Like every other investment, financing is a core consideration when buying a bus. Your business might be eligible for grants depending on the province you're located in and the industry you are part of. In addition, most health care facilities and small municipalities can fund a part of their bus purchase with subsidies. Visit your local government website for more information. Finally, if you are renewing your fleet and have used buses to trade in, Crestline experts can work with your team to estimate their value.
Searching for a bus for sale takes time. We provide resources to shorten the process and help you find the bus you need quickly. Once identified, the bus will be built to match 100% of your needs. Therefore, there is a lead time between the purchase order and the delivery of your vehicle. This delay depends on the model, the level of customization, and the overall market situation. Crestline has a strong relationship with its manufacturers and will keep you updated until the delivery as a partner of choice.
Always consider the lead time when you plan your procurement. Talk to a Crestline Bus specialist to ensure your bus will be ready to go when you need it. If it is not possible, you might consider buying a stock unit or a used bus for sale. Whatever your needs, let us help you buy a bus that will deliver.
Determining if Blue Bird Electric School Buses are the Best Fit for Your School District
Are you in the market for electric buses for sale? Thinking of upgrading your school district's fleet, and wanting to save money and assist the environment at the same time? Blue Bird, the first name in electric school buses, is here to help you in making the important decisions that come along with upgrading your fleet.
There are a multitude of options to choose from when you're in the market for electric buses for sale. For that reason, there are also specific details you should keep in mind to make sure you're getting the best possible bus for your needs.
In this blog post, we'll go over what to look for when shopping for an electric school bus, and we'll also discuss the many benefits of alternative fuels like electricity.
If you're considering making the switch to an electric bus, read on and go into your electric bus shopping confidently!
Electric School Buses ' The way Forward for School Transportation
School districts across the country are harnessing the potential of electric buses by adding these environmentally friendly vehicles to their fleets.
Not only do electric school buses save on fuel costs, but they produce fewer emissions than their diesel-driven predecessors and can end up being much more cost-effective in the long run.
The electric buses for sale are revolutionizing the way we think about public transportation. The benefits of electric school buses extend far beyond that of cost savings too- electric buses help reduce noise pollution, create safer roads, and encourage sustainability and energy independence, which we will discuss in further detail in this article.
It's for these reasons that electric school buses have become an increasingly popular choice for district transportation needs. Electric school buses could be just what your district needs for a better future!
Take the Needs of Your School District into Consideration
When shopping for an electric school bus, it's important to take into consideration your school district's transportation needs, and what would benefit you the most. While it's true that electric school buses benefit students, communities, and the environment, it's important to remember that it's a more complicated decision than just plugging the bus in and being on your way.
Any school district that's considering purchasing electric buses for sale to add to their fleet should understand the total cost of ownership. Your location will play an important role in these calculations, as some cost variables will change drastically from one location to another depending on climate, terrain, and geography.
The most important things to consider when looking at electric buses for sale are:
- Cost of Bus/Fuel/Electricity
- Battery
- Chargers
- Managed vs. Unmanaged charging.
- Infrastructure Design and Installation
- Operational Layout
- Maintenance and Safety
Let's take each one of these considerations and break it down a bit further.
Electric Buses For Sale' Cost of Bus Fuel vs. Bus Electricity
While it is true that electric school buses for sale are more expensive than diesel buses initially, some of the cost can be offset by grants and funding offered at the federal, state, and local level, however, the cost is really offset by the future cost savings you will receive by no longer requiring diesel fuel.
Blue Bird electric school buses will help you to assess your district's unique circumstances help you to find the best option for your situation, saving you the most money in the long run.
You will get efficient and thoughtful service from tenglong.
Electric School Buses ' Battery Considerations
On average, the battery makes up around 30%-50% of the cost of your electric school bus. Having an appropriate battery strategy in place is imperative to the cost, operations, and revenue.
You should give special consideration to battery size and chemistry, as well as all the other options that go along with it such as:
- Capacity and Range (size in kWh)
- Degradation and Replacement Timings
- Leasing Options
Some things to take into consideration are how long will your electric school bus need to run, how many miles does it need to travel, and how much downtime does the electric school bus have to charge in between trips?
For degradation and replacement, the average estimated battery life is 6-10 years, with climate, charger type, charger speed and more accounting for this wide range of estimation.
Lastly, it's critical that you keep the battery warranties at the forefront of your mind. Ensure that key performance indicators, such as Energy Used, Charge Cycles, Average State of Charge (SOC), Depth of Discharge (DOD), Cell Temperatures, and Current rate are all being tracked appropriately to ensure that you do not void your warranty.
Electric School Buses ' Charging Considerations
Electric school buses are charged by electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), using either alternate current level 2(AC) or direct current fast charge (DCFC) systems. While AC systems are less expensive, they charge more slowly. Our team will be able to assist you in weighing the benefits vs the costs, since it's critical that your charger meets the bus' route requirements.
Managed charging means that the school district can plug the bus in and have it only charge when and if needed. It also allows you to program the electric school bus to charge during the least expensive times of day, saving the school district more. Unmanaged simply means that there is no option to schedule the charge during off-peak hours, resulting in a higher long-term cost versus the initial one-time, up-front fee for the appropriate infrastructure.
While on the topic of infrastructure, this will vary from school district to school district. When looking to buy electric buses for your school district, you should be aware of your site's electrical capacity, and where you are in relation to the electric supply you need to power your operation.
Depending on your electrical capacity, it could take many months to install the required electrical system upgrades, which will also have an impact on your bottom line and operational layout.
Considering Your Operation Layout when Looking at Electric Buses for Sale
When you are looking for electric buses for sale, you will need to look at your operational layout since you will need to be strategic about where you install a charging station.
Most charging infrastructure will benefit from being placed closer to a building, where more access to 3-phase power (steady, efficient, constant rate energy) available. This is because while many parking lots may be able to fit the buses, they would not be a suitable charging area without significant utility upgrades.
Exploring charging options upfront can help you to decide on the best type of electric school bus, the number of electric school buses and which types of chargers will work best for your school district.
While all these considerations may sound like quite the undertaking, Blue Bird makes the process simple, and easy for you to understand. We also work with industry leaders to help offset some of the costs that you may incur elsewhere since we work tirelessly to ensure every school district is equipped with the best system set up for them. In turn, this means you will get the best possible deal on all Blue Bird electric buses for sale.
Maintenance and Safety Considerations When Purchasing an Electric School Bus
Electric school buses have fewer moving parts then traditional diesel school buses, which ultimately means they will require less regular maintenance due to breaking parts, damage, and normal wear and tear.
With that said, it's important that everyone who will be working with the electric school buses be properly trained on how to maintain them, as well as ensuring you have a solid staff of maintenance technicians who are familiar with safely servicing electric buses.
Additionally, site-wide safety training for electricity and vehicle charging, how to respond in even of an electrical fire, maintaining your electric parts inventory as well as making sure you acquire all the necessary tools to perform work, when needed, on your fleet.
Why Electric Buses for Sale are a Great Alternative to Traditional, Diesel Buses
Not only do electric buses reduce the number of emissions put into the environment, but they also require less than half the amount of maintenance time while in operation.
As electric buses require no fuel, they save a sizable chunk of operation costs as well; this cost savings can be moved over to other areas that can benefit the district's students and faculty more directly.
Blue Bird offers electric buses for sale that can be customized to suit any school's needs ' from an impressive electric range to additional features such as Heat Pump HVAC, LED lighting, modern dash design and so much more.
Blue Bird, as a trusted transportation leader since , also has strict standard safety features, electronic stability control (ESC) and backup cameras standard on all our electric school buses.
We have met or exceeded US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. We are also Colorado Rack Test Certified, Kentucky Pole Test Certified, and all our buses are equipped with a Hill-Hold Feature for added safety.
Blue Bird Offers a Variety of Electric School Buses That Are Sure to Meet the Needs of Any School District.
Blue Bird has an electric school bus lineup that is sure to offer something that meets the needs of any school district.
Whether you are just entering the electric bus market or expanding your electric fleet, Blue Bird electric school buses can provide unique benefits and cost savings.
With a range of models available, they have an electric bus option that will suit the needs of any organization or school district.
Electric buses have revolutionized the transportation industry, offering school districts more sustainable and cost-effective options compared to traditional fuel-powered buses.
Additionally, Blue Bird energy services provide electric school bus charging solutions through InCharge Energy. InCharge is the industry-leading developer of commercial electric vehicle (EV) charging systems, providing solutions tailored to electric school bus fleets.
Not only are electric school buses for sale a greener option ' significantly lowering emissions output compared to traditional diesel buses ' but electric buses also have much lower operating costs and generate minimal noise when in use, making them ideal for safely transporting students.
While there may seem to be a lot of upfront costs associated with purchasing an electric school bus fleet, your new energy-efficient fleet will pay off for you big time in the long run.
Central States will walk you through every step of the process to ensure you get the best price on a Blue Bird bus, and the best return on investment possible with your new fleet of electric school buses. We have been making electric school buses since , and we aim to deliver top-tier satisfaction to all our customers!
For more information, please visit electric city transit.
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