Thomas Built Buses Unveils First EV Type D School Bus

Thomas Built Buses, a division of Daimler Truck Specialty Vehicles, unveiled its first electric Type D school bus, the Saf-T-Liner eHDX2 Wattson. This new model is designed to support school districts transitioning to electrification, with orders set to open in late 2025 and initial deliveries scheduled for late 2026. The Wattson is built on Thomas Built’s HDX2 platform, and aims to provide a solution tailored to long-term fleet planning, drawing on the company’s experience in EV manufacturing and customer feedback. Charged Fleet reported the news on October 21, 2025.

The bus is powered by Accelera’s 14Xe electric axle, which combines the motor, gearbox, and power electronics into one compact unit. This integration offers smoother driving performance, fewer mechanical parts, and lower maintenance costs. The Wattson has a battery capacity of 246 kWh, offering an estimated range of up to 150 miles. It supports SAE CCS1 charging, with a fast-charging capability of 2 to 3 hours at a DC station with at least 60 kW output. It also features an optional AC/DC charging system and has a V2G-capable system for added flexibility.

In terms of performance, the Wattson delivers 295 peak horsepower and 750 lb-ft of torque, powered through a two-speed transmission. The bus also includes a liquid-cooled battery system, a 277-inch wheelbase, and an LCD instrument cluster for real-time vehicle diagnostics. Optional features include 69-inch pass-through luggage compartments for activity or dual-use buses, and a rear charging port with an optional front charging port.

T.J. Reed, president and CEO of Daimler Truck Specialty Vehicles, emphasized that the Wattson is intended to make the transition to electric vehicles easier for school districts by offering a familiar Type D design that they already trust. The Type D bus is known for its large size, flat front, and high seating capacity, along with enhanced visibility for drivers.

Relion Leads EV Fleet Charging Infrastructure Management Solutions, Including EV School Bus Fleets

EV school bus fleets and other EV fleet types often suffer from downtime. Relion provides a true end-to-end Operations & Maintenance (O&M) platform for EV charging networks, addressing the growing demand for reliability and uptime as charging expands across North America. Unlike fragmented systems or limited extended warranties that only react after failures occur, Relion takes a proactive approach by using data patterns to detect potential issues before they lead to downtime.

The platform centralizes every aspect of charger management, offering real-time monitoring, diagnostics, and structured workflows to streamline problem detection, response, and resolution. This unified visibility reduces complexity, accelerates repair times, and enhances network performance.

Relion also provides 24/7 managed services, including network monitoring, preventative maintenance, and field repairs, ensuring chargers operate at peak performance. The result is a scalable, customer-focused model that delivers higher uptime and value than traditional maintenance options.

Designed for all sectors such as public charging networks, fleets, service providers, OEMs, multifamily housing, and workplaces, Relion’s hardware-agnostic system supports standard protocols and collaborative workflows for complete operational control.

Founded in 2023 by Benoit Lacroix and Jesse White, Relion has quickly grown through funding and industry adoption, positioning itself as a trusted O&M partner for the next generation of EV infrastructure.