Lightning eMotors Develops Largest Battery All-Electric Double-Decker Motor Coach

Lightning eMotors and ABC Companies announced the sale of the largest battery electric double decker motorcoach to All Aboard America! Holdings.

The first delivery to Lux Bus America in Anaheim, Calif., will be a Van Hool TD925 repowered double‐decker electrified by Lightning eMotors from diesel to all‐electric. It features a 640 kWh battery capacity, the largest known to exist for a vehicle of its type, an estimated range of over 200 miles, and a charge time of under six hours with a 150 kW DC fast charger. The coach has a seating capacity of 70 people.

“There are nearly 35,000 diesel motorcoaches on the road in the U.S. today, and the vast majority of them are ideal candidates for electrification,” Kash Sethi, CRO of Lightning eMotors, said. “Electrifying these existing diesel vehicles has a strong financial and environmental business case. It keeps the chassis and premium bus body out of the scrapyard and enables the move to zero‐emissions with a dramatically lower cost than buying a new motorcoach, diesel or electric.”

Lightning worked with its motorcoach dealer‐partner ABC Companies to deliver a single deck motorcoach to All Aboard America! in Mesa, Ariz., in January 2021 and to develop the double decker.

“We are thrilled to have had the chance to partner with Lightning eMotors on this important project,” said Roman Cornell, president and CCO of ABC Companies. “The first repowered motor coach that Lightning delivered has performed superbly while meeting range, noise and performance targets to seamlessly integrate within transitioning fleets of new electric and existing combustion‐powered coaches.”

“As large corporate campuses begin to open up after COVID‐19, we are seeing an increased interest in zero‐emission employee transportation,” said Bill Trimarco, CEO of All Aboard America! Holdings. “Not only do electric buses provide an attractive total cost of ownership, but the clean, quiet ride makes them perfect for employees or students that want to collaborate or do other work while commuting to or across corporate campuses.”

The first Lightning eMotors electrified double‐decker coach is scheduled to be delivered and deployed later this month.

“We are honored to partner with Bill and All Aboard America!. I am excited to see the expressions on riders’ faces when they first experience this coach — the ride is simply amazing, and not having to idle while waiting is game‐changing,” said Tim Reeser, CEO of Lightning eMotors. “In addition, as we work more with corporate and college campuses, we see an opportunity to take our drive‐by‐wire technology to the next level and fully autonomize it for campus operation.”

Originally posted on Metro Magazine