MCI and Coach Atlantic Maritime Bus Leaders in Electric Bus Transportation — Coach Atlantic Maritime Bus to be the first in Canada to test the 100% Battery Electric MCI D45 CRTe LE

“We’re excited to introduce the future of battery-electric transportation to the Maritimes through our work with New Flyer and now MCI, where we’ve operated MCI coaches for many years,” according to Mike Cassidy, Principal of the Cassidy Group “This new all electric D45 CRTe LE demo will allow us to demonstrate its revolutionary accessibility features while gathering data to plan our future fleet.” Cassidy Group’s T3 Transit, their municipal transit brand, was the first to bring a battery-electric low floor transit bus made by MCI sister company New Flyer for testing on transit routes serving greater Charlottetown in Prince Edward Island in 2018.

MCI’s Patrick Scully, Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Customer Service, notes that Coach Atlantic’s established record in green transportation makes the company a desired partner for MCI’s development of zero-emissions technology. “Operators like Coach Atlantic Maritime Bus and Mike Cassidy are leading the all-electric discussion in North America for scheduled and charter service, and we’re honored to have them test one of our first all-electric D45 CRTe LE model headed into production this year.”“Operators like Coach Atlantic Maritime Bus and Mike Cassidy are leading the all-electric discussion in North America for scheduled and charter service…”

The Maritime tour and demonstration, beginning in mid-March, will be the first for Canada. MCI launched the all-electric D45 CRTe LE CHARGE model at a high-profile event at its California Bay Area Service Center on October 1, 2019, followed by demonstrations with both private employee transportation programs and public sector agencies with long distance express routes in the U.S.

The MCI D45 CRTe LE CHARGE is a major step for the MCI D-Series, which is the industry’s all-time best-selling coach. The redesigned next-generation model features a revolutionary patented LE (Low Entry) vestibule with a seating area and a ramp that significantly improves dwell times and the boarding and ride experience for passengers with disabilities.

Winner of the 2020 UMA Environmental Sustainability Award

Cassidy and Coach Atlantic Maritime Bus received the MCI-sponsored 2020 Leadership in Environmental Sustainability Award during the United Motor Coach Association (UMA) EXPO for a broad suite of green practices, including a conservation commitment that applies inside and outside the business. Coach Atlantic utilizes idle-free driver training programs offered by the University of Vermont’s Certification for Sustainable Transportation (CST) program in addition to aggressive recycling programs companywide.

Mike Cassidy himself is in the forefront of fuel conservation by advocating for electric buses and actively supporting alternative fuel research — including biodiesel made from wood chips and other organic materials. Active and knowledgeable in agriculture, Cassidy has begun to grow haskap berries — a plant specific to northern climates — for their health properties in addressing serious diseases.“Cassidy and Coach Atlantic Maritime Bus received the 2020 North America Leadership in Environmental Sustainability Award”

The Cassidy Group is also supporting research at the University of Prince Edward Island in the study of sea lettuce, a water plant harmful to marine life, to learn of its potential in creating new plant-based biostimulants and natural pharmaceutical products.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/389357968
Click to view Coach Atlantic Maritime Bus Environmental Leadership video.

“Green innovation knows no limits at this company, and they’re a great example of environmental leadership in our industry,” said Patricia Ziska, MCI Vice President, New Coach Sales, adding, “We look forward to working with them on future green initiatives including tracking the performance of the D45 CRTe LE and its ability to meet the requirements of their application.”

In accepting the 2020 MCI Leadership in Environmental Sustainability Award, Cassidy expressed his passion for the industry’s ability to take cars off the road to mitigate traffic congestion and improve air quality. “What would you rather see, investments in cars or motor coaches?” he said to members of the industry. “Our green message needs to be visible to the riding public. By working together, we can truly move our message forward, making travel by motor coach attractive beyond its convenience and affordability but for its environmental benefits to North America.

About NFI

With 9,000 team members operating from more than 50 facilities across ten countries, NFI is a leading independent global bus manufacturer providing a comprehensive suite of mass transportation solutions under brands: New Flyer® (heavy-duty transit buses), Alexander Dennis Limited (single and double-deck buses), Plaxton (motor coaches), MCI® (motor coaches), ARBOC® (low-floor cutaway and medium-duty buses), and NFI Parts™. NFI buses and motor coaches incorporate the widest range of drive systems available including: clean diesel, natural gas, diesel-electric hybrid, and zero-emission electric (trolley, battery, and fuel cell). In total, NFI now supports over 105,000 buses and coaches currently in service around the world. NFI common shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol NFI. News and information are available at www.nfigroup.com, www.newflyer.com, www.mcicoach.com, www.arbocsv.com, www.alexander-dennis.com, and nfi.parts.

About MCI

Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is North America’s public and private market motor coach leader, building the J4500 (the industry best-seller for 14 consecutive years), the all-new 35-foot J3500 model, and the workhorse D-Series including the breakthrough ADA-accessible MCI D45 CRT LE Commuter Coach offering lower dwell times. MCI will add battery-electric propulsion in 2020. With nearly 30,000 MCI coaches on the road, MCI also provides maintenance, repair, 24-hour roadside assistance, parts supply through NFI Parts, and technician training through the industry’s only Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) accredited MCI Academy.

About Coach Atlantic Maritime Bus

Coach Atlantic Maritime Bus of the Cassidy Group is one of Canada’s most diversified bus companies providing services for group charters, cruise ship arrivals, multi day tours, daily inter-city line runs, municipal transit schedules, and school bus contracts. With close to 450 employees and more than 275 buses on the roads, Coach Atlantic Maritime Bus is proud to be a leader in advancing discussions for battery electric vehicles, fostering industry safety practices and regulations, and promoting advanced transportation technologies.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release may contain forward-looking statements relating to expected future events and financial and operating results of NFI Group that involve risks and uncertainties. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, investors cannot be assured that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements, and the differences may be material. Actual results may differ materially from management expectations as projected in such forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons, including market and general economic conditions and economic conditions of and funding availability for customers to purchase coaches and to purchase parts or services, customers may not exercise options to purchase additional coaches, the ability of customers to suspend or terminate contracts for convenience and the other risks and uncertainties discussed in the materials filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Due to the potential impact of these factors, the NFI Group disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable law.

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