Motor Coach Industries (MCI) introduced immediately that sustainability pioneer Coach Atlantic Maritime Bus would be the first Canadian operator to exhibit MCI’s new battery-electric MCI D45 CRTe LE coach this spring.
Cassidy Group’s T3 Transit, a municipal transit model, was the primary to convey a battery-electric low flooring transit bus made by MCI sister firm New Flyer for testing on transit routes serving higher Charlottetown in Prince Edward Island in 2018.
“We’re excited to introduce the way forward for battery-electric transportation to the Maritimes by our work with New Flyer and now MCI, the place we’ve operated MCI coaches for a few years,” mentioned Mike Cassidy, Principal of the Cassidy Group. “This new all electrical D45 CRTe LE demo will enable us to exhibit its revolutionary accessibility options whereas gathering information to plan our future fleet.”
MCI’s Patrick Scully, vice chairman of gross sales, advertising and marketing and customer support, mentioned that Coach Atlantic’s established document in inexperienced transportation makes the corporate a desired companion for MCI’s growth of zero-emissions expertise.
“Operators like Coach Atlantic Maritime Bus and Mike Cassidy are main the all-electric dialogue in North American for scheduled and constitution service, and we’re honored to have them check one in all our first all-electric D45 CRTe LE mannequin headed into manufacturing this yr,” Scully mentioned.
The Maritime tour and demonstration, starting in mid-March, would be the first for Canada. MCI launched the all-electric D45 CRTe LE CHARGE mannequin at a high-profile occasion at its California Bay Space Service Middle on October 1, 2019, adopted by demonstrations with each personal worker transportation applications and public sector businesses with lengthy distance categorical routes within the U.S.
The MCI D45 CRTe LE CHARGE is a significant step for the MCI D-Sequence, which is the trade’s all-time best-selling coach. The redesigned next-generation mannequin contains a revolutionary patented LE (Low Entry) vestibule with a seating space and a ramp that considerably improves dwell occasions and the boarding and experience expertise for passengers with disabilities.
Winner of the 2020 UMA Environmental Sustainability Award
Cassidy and Coach Atlantic Maritime Bus obtained the MCI-sponsored 2020 Management in Environmental Sustainability Award throughout the United Motor Coach Affiliation (UMA) EXPO for a broad suite of inexperienced practices, together with a conservation dedication that applies inside and out of doors the enterprise. Coach Atlantic makes use of idle-free driver coaching applications supplied by the College of Vermont’s Certification for Sustainable Transportation (CST) program along with aggressive recycling applications companywide.
Mike Cassidy himself is within the forefront of gas conservation by advocating for electrical buses and actively supporting various gas analysis – together with biodiesel constructed from wooden chips and different natural supplies. Energetic and educated in agriculture, Cassidy has begun to develop haskap berries – a plant particular to northern climates — for his or her well being properties in addressing severe ailments.
The Cassidy Group can also be supporting analysis on the College of Prince Edward Island within the examine of sea lettuce, a water plant dangerous to marine life, to be taught of its potential in creating new plant-based biostimulants and pure pharmaceutical merchandise.
“Inexperienced innovation is aware of no limits at this firm, they usually’re a terrific instance of environmental management in our trade,” mentioned Patricia Ziska, MCI vice chairman of latest coach gross sales. “We stay up for working with them on future inexperienced initiatives together with monitoring the efficiency of the D45 CRTe LE and its potential to fulfill the necessities of their software.”
In accepting the 2020 MCI Management in Environmental Sustainability Award, Cassidy expressed his ardour for the trade’s potential to take automobiles off the highway to mitigate site visitors congestion and enhance air high quality.
“What would you reasonably see, investments in automobiles or motorcoaches?” he mentioned to members of the trade. “Our inexperienced message must be seen to the driving public. By working collectively, we will really transfer our message ahead, making journey by motor coach engaging past its comfort and affordability however for its environmental advantages to North America.”
