MCI: Moving fast in electrification

Motor Coach Industries (MCI), which already has 20 D45 CRT LE CHARGE electric coaches operating in Southern California, is planning an electric cross-country trip to New Jersey.

“Now that MCI is part of New Flyer, which offers six different propulsion systems — including a hydrogen fuel cell on the same body as clean diesel models — MCI is able to take advantage of their knowledge,” said Brent Danielson, MCI Chief Engineering Manager for Product Planning. 

“Diesel isn’t going away. Yet, we’re moving fast in electrification with the next generation of our batteries already on the horizon — six months to a year — which will increase mileage range,” Danielson said.

Michael McDonald, Operations Manager at the New Flyer/MCI Vehicle Innovation Center in Anniston, Alabama, added, “Electric brings lower life-cycle costs overall. Our plan was to keep much of the diesel coach alive. We actually designed our platform to replicate diesel parts and placement.”

MCI utilizes New Flyer Infrastructure Solutions for planning and developing plug-in charging turnkey solutions.

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