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Hayward, Calif. — Motor Coach Industries (MCI) offered a sneak preview of the battery-electric, all-accessible MCI D45 CRTe LE CHARGE in Hayward, CA October 1. The occasion is the first Reliability Symposium for West Coast operators at the MCI Service Center.
The Hayward center, one of MCI’s busiest serving Bay Area’s growing Silicon Valley employee shuttle operations, public transit agencies, and dozens of tour and charter companies, featured a demonstration of MCI’s move into all-electric transit at the Symposium.
“We are in the midst of very significant product launches, combined with service initiatives that have specific focus on the Bay Area market,” said MCI Executive Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Customer Service Patrick Scully. “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 lineup 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.”
At the Oct.1 event, operators also had the chance to test ride the latest J-Series models, which now includes the 45-foot J4500, equipped with efficient Cummins X12, and the smaller 35-foot J3500. Both models feature electric cooling (e-fan) systems for fuel efficiency improvements and the latest-generation of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) plus 360-degree camera systems as options.
MCI also showcased other NFI Group brands including New Flyer’s Xcelsior CHARGE battery-electric low-floor transit bus operated by AC Transit, and Alexander Dennis’ double-deck bus for North America.
The first-ever battery electric J4500e and the MCI D45 CRTe LE CHARGE Commuter Coach will feature the high-torque Siemens electric drive motor with a power rating of 260 kWh and maximum torque of 3,320 LB FT, powered by 63 Ah NMCI lithium-ion ultra-high energy cells by XALT. To meet long-distance commuter needs, this model’s high-power plug-in battery charges in approximately 4 hours. MCI plans to have its 100 percent battery-electric coaches in the market with passenger service and ready for start of production in 2020, and ultimately plans a broad range of electrified vehicles.
MCI also plans a next generation D-Series high floor coach—the MCI D4520 in 2020 and MCI D45 CRT with a mid-lift in 2021. Other variants include a Buy-America compliant, high floor commuter coach with mid-lift in a 40-foot version.
MCI has equipped its Bay Area location with services important the marketplace, offering flexible service hours, complete coach maintenance agreements, and access to on-call MCI mobile maintenance assistance. Services also include scheduled preventative maintenance and repair along with inspections and oil sample analysis as required by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and CHP (California Highway Patrol). A state-of-the-art bus wash system is underway at the facility which also features the newest diagnostic equipment and offers warranty service, engine repair, brake and air systems service, and HVAC services, audio/visual installation, and upgrades.
Visit mcicoach.com for more information.
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Canton, Mass. — Luxury ground transportation provider Above All Transportation/ Boston Car Service is excited to announce the acquisition of Executive Transportation Services (ETS). Effective immediately, ETS staff and services will be moving from its Randolph, Mass., location and working out of the Above All/ Boston Car headquarters.
"We are thrilled to have a well-established brand like ETS as part of our company," said Above All/ Boston Car CEO Brett Barenholtz. “ETS has world-class chauffeurs, dispatchers, reservation agents, and managers who we are looking forward to bringing onboard. More importantly, we’ll be able to offer their customers a diverse fleet, which includes sedans, limousines, SUVs, as well as bus and coach services.”
Founded in 2007 by brothers Johnny and Peter Greene, the family-run ETS grew to be one of the most recognized brands in its market.
"As both companies have been located in neighboring towns, adding ETS to the Above All Transportation/ Boston Car Service brand expands our growing footprint and will streamline our capabilities. This is an exciting time in our industry, and we couldn’t be happier about expanding our team and growing our service area in the Massachusetts market and beyond.”
Above All/ Boston Car is a leading chauffeured transportation company that specializes in corporate travel, shuttles, events and bus charters. Above All was founded by Kevin Cronin in 1988, while Barenholtz founded Boston Car Service in 1997. The two companies merged in 2015, and have grown into a global company that services over 600 cities worldwide.
Visit abovealltrans.com or bostoncar.com for more information.
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More than 150 golfers, members, and supporters came out in droves for the golf outing itself, which attracts more participants every year. This year’s event recognized the top two teams of the tournament: Skillman, N.J. —The third annual installment of the Limousine Association of New Jersey’s (LANJ’s) golf outing once again inspired the nationwide industry to come out and support a good cause with good company at the Cherry Valley Country Club on September 16. CD Publisher Chris Weiss was on hand for the daylong event that included golf, dinner, a charity fundraiser, networking, and, for the first time ever, a September 15 pre-event outing at association favorite Strawberry’s Pub & Pizza, which is owned by the Gulino and Chirico families.
First place: Rich Calabro, Jake Casey, Scott Cowley, and Dave Purdy, who comprised one of the Cadillac Professional Vehicles/Brogan Cadillac foursomes
Second Place: Charles Brower, Ben Cook, Matt Mushorn, and Steve O’Shea, a foursome purchased by Transportation Insurance
Once the foursomes finished working their ways through the country club’s golf course, a sit-down dinner included the fundraising auction, as well as the presentation of the day’s trophies and charitable checks alike. Among the items auctioned off was a pass to next month’s CD/NLA Show in Boston, which was won by Todd Roberts of JACO Limousines & Transportation.
Attendees helped raise money for Covenant House New Jersey, which is a nonprofit organization that shelters homeless youth and a charity that the tournament supported for the first time last year, as well as the Police Unity Tour, which not only memorializes fallen officers but also raises money for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and Museum.
The Police Unity Tour has been a golf-outing beneficiary since the event’s inception in 2017, which LANJ President Jason Sharenow of Broadway Elite Worldwide has described as “near and dear to my heart.” Sharenow has volunteered with the Livingston Police Department for more than two decades, while Covenant House was a suggestion that originally was proposed by LANJ Director David Seelinger of EmpireCLS, who is a longtime supporter of the charity. Of the more than $65,000 that the golf outing raised, both the Police Unity Tour and Covenant House New Jersey received $5,000 each.
With an increased attendance comes more opportunities to harness the potential for helping charitable organizations, and this year debuted an on-site plea from the Police Unity Tour. An attendee representing the non-profit asked LANJ members and supporters to assist Blue H.E.L.P., which not only supports police officers who are struggling with their emotional well-being and honors those who have died by suicide “because their emotional injuries became too much to bear.” Attendees gave close to an additional $2,000 to the cause, and several individuals pledged to match that donation.
Visit lanj.org for more information.
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