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Riverside, Calif .—Newport Coachworks, a subsidiary of Green Automotive Company, recently generated significant interest for its CNG (Compressed natural gas) and electric shuttle buses at the Government Fleet Expo—better known as GF—which took place in San Diego early June. To see a video of the bus, visit this link.
Carter Read, president of Newport Coachworks, says that its recently launched electric shuttle bus, the e-Patriot, has attracted major attention from local municipalities, and that following the show, the company is in negotiation with several local authorities and is close to concluding contracts to supply CNG and fully electric buses to this specific new market. Some of those negotiations include a quote for San Joaquin Sheriff’s department, which would potentially use the vehicles as prisoner buses. Newport is also working on an electric drive train solution for use in Antarctica, which needs to perform in the coldest of climates.
“There’s no rubber molding; there’s nothing that can be damaged by the weather,” says Read. “It’s the wave of the future, and we have the longest resin-infused molds in the country.”
By all accounts, Newport’s participation in the show was productive at opening new doors for the electric buses. “We were able to access a whole new audience and have already captured several solid leads. We have seen that being able to tailor our products to the unique specifications required for these government contracts can prove to be very beneficial to our business. We can confirm that the market for low and zero emission vehicles is definitely taking off and Newport Coachworks is in a great position to cater for this market successfully,” says Green Automotive Company CEO Ian Hobday.
Visit newportcoachworks.comfor more information.
6/14
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(L to R) ABC Special Agent Marcus Brigil, VLA President Glenn Stafford, DMV Special Agent Thomas Penny, VLA Secretary Andrea Saathoff, ABC Speical Agent Tom Kirby, VLA VP Paul Walsh, VLA VP Henry Potter, and VLA Treasurer Pam Tripp
Williamsburg, Va
— The Virginia Limousine Association June meeting was hosted by James River Transportation. The meeting featured presentations by special agents from both Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) and also the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
The ABC officials spoke about the recently passed legislation allowing for collection of wine tasting fees by motor carriers. A short application is being developed that will not have a fee. Upon issuance of the one year permit, a copy should be carried in the vehicle and the fees must be submitted to the winery or brewery either before, or at the time of, service. Fees cannot be submitted afterwards. The tasting fees charged cannot be for a greater amount than the winery/brewery charges. The VLA will provide updates on the application process on its website when available. ABC agent Tom Kirby also spent time answering questions and enlightening attendees on the nuances of the laws in Virginia regarding alcohol in for-hire vehicles.
Special Agent-in-Charge Tom Penny of the Virginia DMV reported seeing a decline in stretch limousine activity, and an increase in party bus vehicles as well as (strangely enough) more private limousines which require great effort to catch operating illegally. The DMV is working closely with FMCSA and passenger carrier checks will be increasing.
Penny also informed members of the DMVs efforts to “level the playing field” with the ridesharing apps. They are attending judicial conferences to get judges to understand the importance of the violations to get the “level playing field,” and he encouraged members to contact their local police departments as well to emphasize the importance of compliance. These efforts will be especially important moving forward with the Uber/Lyft situation. Arlington Police will be enforcing laws on Uber/Lyft and the DMV will be hosting taxi enforcement training at various state police departments as well.
Dylan Bishop, a DMV law intern from legislative services, encouraged VLA members to make sure to answer the recent survey on the ridesharing apps, and to keep making our voices heard as the DMV has been tasked by the legislature to “fix the problem” before next year’s general assembly.
Visit virginialimousineassociation.orgfor more information.
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Haverhill, Mass.—Royale Limousine, manufacturers of Lincoln and Cadillac stretches, Sprinter minicoaches, and custom mobile offices, recently announced that it has added two new distributors to its roster in a move to better serve its East Coast Customers. The company celebrated 30 years in the industry in 2013.
The two new distributors are Lakeview Custom Coach (lakeviewcustomcoach.com), which serves the Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia area, and Gateway Coachworks (gatewaycoachworks.com), which serves all of Florida. In addition to the company headquarters in Massachusetts, the company also has sales and service centers in New York, California, and Nevada.
Visit royalelimo.com for more information.
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