Pegasus To Purchase 25 Zeus All-Electric Cutaway Z-19 Chassis For Type A Electric Bus Market

Minneapolis, MN (July 14, 2022) – One year ago, Brian Barrington, President of Pegasus Specialty Vehicle, LLC (Pegasus), presented Zeus Electric Chassis, Inc (Zeus) with one of their first purchase orders.  Growing on this early collaboration, Zeus is pleased to announce that Pegasus has placed an additional purchase order for 25 more chassis as the emerging bus-body builder grows its model lines and distribution network.   

Working with Pegasus to create an on-purpose design, Zeus has developed an All-Electric Cutaway Z-19 Cab Chassis for Type A school buses and electric shuttle and paratransit buses. 

“Compared to the 14,500-pound GVWR of the conventional gas or diesel conversion models on the Ford and GM platforms, the Z-19 gives us 5,000 more pounds of payload to play with. Most shuttle and paratransit buses will hold up to 26 ambulatory passengers and we’ll probably be able to get up to 32 with the Zeus Cutaway Cab-Chassis.” 

Brian Barrington, President of Pegasus Specialty Vehicle, LLC (Pegasus)

The Zeus chassis offers a purpose-built platform for the Pegasus bus body.  Independent suspension and all-wheel drive yield a safe and smoother ride, particularly in rural areas or in inclement weather conditions.  The Zeus design offers holistic integration of all high- and low-voltage auxiliary functions, providing the flexibility needed to fully power climate systems and power-entry lifts with the chassis system. The battery thermal management system integral to the Zeus battery optimizes battery performance in all extreme ambient temperature conditions, from Minnesota winters to Arizona summers. 

Initial delivery to Pegasus of their first Z-19 Cutaway Cab-Chassis will be in Q4 2022.  Once upfit at their Dunkirk, OH, facility, Pegasus intends to provide the vehicles to their dealers nationwide as demonstration vehicles.  

Pegasus has been announcing agreements with dealers, including Creative Bus Sales.  The deal with Creative Bus Sales enables all three companies to capture sales and win a portion of the abundant federal and state grant money incentivizing rapid electric-bus adoption. With Creative Bus Sales’ nationwide distribution footprint and deep market penetration, coupled with the unique BEV offering from Pegasus and Zeus, the organizations are well positioned to compete.  Read more here.  

Significant funding on both the state and federal levels is accelerating the growth of the electric school bus market.  Nationally, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has allocated $5 billion over five years to replace diesel school buses across the U.S. and U.S. territories. Other state programs are being rolled out — for example, the California Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Incentive Program (HVIP) offers $130M for public school buses, and more is available for commercial and transit bus applications.  

While the Cutaway Cab-Chassis won’t be available until later this year, Zeus has their GenII Prototype Chassis in Reno for the School Transportation News (STN) Expo, July 17-19.  The prototype chassis incorporates all the key elements of the Zeus chassis design.  The Zeus team is in the Pegasus booth #139 at the show, ready to talk about the key differentiators of the Zeus design plus all the exciting developments in all-electric bus funding. 

“We’re excited to be at the show and engage with bus industry experts as fleets introduce and expand their EV adoption initiatives.   With new funding and incentives in place, the industry is ready to take advantage of EV advancements made by companies like Pegasus and Zeus” says Bill Brandt, Chief Revenue Officer at Zeus.  “We’ve been very impressed with the bus body design being brought to market by Brian and the folks at Pegasus and look forward to being with them at the show to discuss our collective differentiated approach and production readiness.” 

Download Cutaway Chassis Specs Here

About Zeus Electric Chassis, Inc.  

Zeus is a leading class 4-6 purpose-built, severe-duty, electric work truck solution in North America. The company’s mission is to engineer and manufacture uncompromising, full-electric vocational solutions that address environmental and industry needs. Zeus’ ground-up approach and willingness to co-develop allow its customers to reimagine their future business models. Zeus is well networked within the eMobility ecosystem, partnering with market-leading technology suppliers, work truck OEMs, end-user fleets, and nonprofit industry leaders with the mission of accelerating EV adoption nationwide. 

About Pegasus Specialty Vehicles, LLC. 

Pegasus Bus is spearheaded by industry-proven leadership, experienced as reputable expert innovators in the school transportation and manufacturing industries. Its management team brings a culture of creativity, flexibility, effectiveness, efficiency and teamwork to producing competitively-priced, modern school and shuttle buses that address market needs that have been ignored by existing bus manufacturers. Located in West Central Ohio Pegasus is positioned to be able to service the entire U.S. and Canada from one location. The company provides buses for both school and transit bus industries. Pegasus Bus leadership is well recognized by bus dealers, school bus contractors, school district transportation operators, and decision-makers who have expressed dissatisfaction with current products that do not provide the features these buyers need and want.   

Learn more at www.ridepegasus.net 

For further information, please contact:  

Zeus Electric Chassis, Inc.  
Phone: (844) 938-7462  
Email: [email protected]  

SOURCE: Zeus Electric Chassis, Inc. 

Zeus® and Zeus Electric Chassis® are registered trademarks, and Zeus Power Platform™ is a trademark, of Zeus Electric Chassis, Inc