MCI gives first look at accessible, electric D45 CRTe LE CHARGE
Motor Coach Industries gave West Coast operators the first look at the new battery-electric, low-entry, all-accessible MCI D45 CRTe LE CHARGE during its Reliability Symposium in Hayward, California, on Oct. 1.
MCI featured its coming electric models at the event. The Hayward MCI Service Center, opened in 2017, serves San Francisco Bay Area employee shuttles, public transit agencies and tour and charter companies. MCI plans to have its 100-percent battery-electric coaches ready to start production in 2020 and ultimately plans a broad range of electrified vehicles.
“We are in the midst of very significant product launches, combined with service initiatives that have specific focus on the Bay area market,” said Patrick Scully, MCI executive vice president of sales, marketing and customer service.
“MCI’s move into battery-electric is one of our most significant, and our all-electric J4500e and D45 CRTe LE models that inaugurate the MCI CHARGE product line-up will be game-changers in private and public transportation. Our expertise in electric comes with our reliability reputation and the expertise in electric transit buses from our sister company, New Flyer.”
BYD 60-footer completes Altoona testing
BYD became the first manufacturer to successfully complete Altoona durability testing with a 60-foot, articulated, battery-electric bus, the company announced. The K11M completed the 15,000-mile durability test in 106 days in the Federal Transit Administration’s Model Bus Testing Program in Pennsylvania.
“The K11M passing the durability testing is a great milestone for BYD,” said Bobby Hill, vice president of coach and bus. “We were the first in the industry to develop a 60-foot battery-electric bus and are proud to see it in use with transit agencies across the country.”
