Thomas Built Buses just launched the second generation of its Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley electric school bus originally unveiled in 2017 – here’s what’s new.

A Smarter powertrain with Accelera’s eAxle

The second-gen Jouley is all about being more efficient, better performance, and being easier to service. At the heart of it is the 14Xe eAxle from Accelera, Cummins’ zero-emissions brand. This piece of tech combines the motor, transmission, brakes, and rear-drive gear into one compact unit on the rear axle. By ditching the traditional driveshaft, the eAxle is lighter, simpler, and more efficient. It sends power straight to the wheels, which means smoother rides, better acceleration, and improved torque.

Proterra’s 800-volt battery ramps up performance

The Jouley’s new 800-volt Proterra battery helps the bus handle steep hills, accelerate more quickly, and integrate extras like air conditioning and heating without sacrificing performance. This means it can easily handle all terrains, from flat roads to mountainous routes.

Easier to fix and keep running

Thomas Built’s next-gen electric school bus doesn’t just drive better; it’s also easier to maintain. The eAxle’s simplified design means fewer moving parts and centralized components, which cuts down on repair time and costs.

Technicians will appreciate updates like a new 12-by-12-inch floor panel, which gives direct access to high-voltage connectors without having to remove the battery packs. Plus, a relocated heating loop surge tank makes everyday maintenance even simpler. The focus here is to get buses back on the road faster.

Room for more passengers

The second-gen Jouley offers a new 219-inch wheelbase, letting it carry up to 60 passengers, a feature many operators have been asking for. The shorter eAxle also makes the bus easier to maneuver, whether it’s navigating tight school parking lots or fitting into smaller service bays.

A tech-forward driver experience

Drivers will notice the sleek new LCD digital dash, which feels more like a modern car than a traditional school bus. It displays more detailed diagnostics and operational data, with animations that make key info easy to understand. Software updates will roll out new features over time so the bus stays up-to-date without needing hardware changes.

The 219-inch wheelbase version of the Jouley is already in production at Thomas Built’s High Point, North Carolina factory, with more wheelbase options set to roll out in 2025.

Read more: Oakland is now first in the US to deploy a 100% electric school bus fleet – and it’s V2G

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Volkswagen says that its electric cars will be able to charge at Tesla’s Supercharger network starting in June, reports PC Magazine.

In 2022, Tesla announced it would open its charging network, lured by big money promised in President Biden’s federal EV charging grants.

For a while it seemed like a bit of a hail mary, as many thought that most of the industry was already committed to the SAE CCS standard for fast charging.

But then, in 2023, Ford announced it would adopt Tesla’s connector, and all the dominos started to fall. Soon enough, basically the entire industry had announced a shift to Tesla’s charging standard.

For a time, though, VW was a holdout. It wasn’t until December 2023 – half a year after Ford’s announcement – that VW committed to switching to NACS in 2025 (though really, they were just waiting for SAE’s certification of the standard, which was completed a few days prior).

Well, now we’re here in 2025, and VW says they’re ready to step up.

Today at CES, VW PR director Mark Gillies confirmed to PC Magazine that “we get access to the network in June/July, when we have an official VW adapter.”

This means that the VW EVs available in the US – the ID.4 crossover SUV (which just restarted sales after a door handle recall) and the brand new ID. Buzz minivan, should be able to charge within months… as long as everything goes as planned.

Currently, VW isn’t even listed on Tesla’s NACS page, which mentions that Ford, Rivian, GM, Volvo, Polestar, and Nissan vehicles can all charge on Tesla’s charging network. The only manufacturer currently listed as “coming soon” is Mercedes-Benz, and generally manufacturers have spent a few months on that page before gaining access.

So this is a bit of a surprise announcement from VW, but certainly welcome. Then again, we have witnessed miscommunications in this respect before, so maybe Tesla just didn’t want to jump the gun again, like it did with Nissan. (Update: It turns out VW jumped the gun this time, as a previous version of this article quoted VW saying it will get access in March, not June).

In the past, adapters have taken some manufacturers time to make and ship out. Ford, for example, not only delayed its adapter rollout, but also had to replace some adapters – so caution might be warranted here.

VW’s confirmation today doesn’t specify whether its sub-brands, Audi and Porsche, would be on the same timeline. But since the three brands committed to NACS in a joint announcement, it stands to reason that they could be on the same timeline to get access and adapters.

Update: A previous version of this article stated that VW cars will get access in March, and adapters in June. It turns out, both access and adapters will come in June.

Electrek’s Take

Given that VW was one of the last manufacturers to officially adopt NACS, it’s nice to see them keeping to their timeline – and possibly beating some other manufacturers to the punch too.

This could also be a sign that we’ll start seeing more of a flood of manufacturers getting access soon. The transition is supposed to happen “throughout 2025” after all, and, well, that’s where we are. But the casual nature with which VW has confirmed this timeline suggests that perhaps this transition is really about to get on a roll.

So, look forward to having a lot more interesting sights to see at Superchargers, as the menagerie gets more varied throughout the year.

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US EV sales will continue to grow in the year ahead, accounting for 1 in 4 vehicles sold in 2025, according to Cox Automotive’s 2025 Outlook.

Cox Automotive is kicking off 2025 with a bright outlook for the auto market. After wrapping up 2024 on a high note, the US auto industry seems to be on a solid path forward, despite some uncertainties. In fact, Cox is predicting that it’s going to be the best year for the auto market since before the pandemic, in 2019.

With the exception of Stellantis and Tesla, nearly every automaker posted higher sales year-over-year overall in 2024. General Motors was the top-selling automaker in 2024, while Honda and Mazda delivered strong growth.

The US market posted record EV sales in 2023 and 2024, and this trend is expected to continue in 2025. Cox Automotive predicts that EVs will account for approximately 10% of the market total in the year ahead, up from roughly 7.5% in 2024.

Hybrids and plug-ins will account for about 15% of the market, and sales of ICE vehicles will tumble to 75% of total volume, the lowest level on record.

EV growth will be supported by around 15 additional EV models entering the market, consumers deciding to buy before the Trump administration cuts the $7,500 tax credit, and state-level incentives countering potential federal cuts. The rapid expansion of the EV charging network is also contributing to this growth.

Cox asserts that “consumers are feeling better about the road ahead, as the US election was smoothly settled, interest rates are below their peaks, and the job market has stabilized.”

Read more: ‘EVs right now are the best deals in the market’ – Kelley Blue Book

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