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IMG Members Visit the MCI and New Flyer Vehicle Innovation Center

Nov. 12, 2018

Related To: Motor Coach Industries (MCI)

MCI and IMG members gather the Vehicle Innovation Center (VIC), the industry's only tech-lab. From left are Ian Smart, MCI; Patricia Ziska, MCI; Gladys Gillis, The Starline Collection; Chuck Abbott, Gray Line Tennessee; Scott Riccio, Northeast Charter and Tour; Buddy Sload, Krapf Transportation; Brent Maitland, MCI; Dan Martin, Karst Stages; Mike Dixon, Southeastern Stages; Patrick Scully, MCI; Geoffrey Lynch, Hampton Jitney; Brian Parker, Southeastern Stages; Christian Holter, Rochester City Lines; Tom Skinner, Cline Tours; Dan Holter, Rochester City Lines; Frank Leyden, Cline Tours; Robert Lessor, MCI; Greg Gallup, Royal Coach Tours; JP Pelletier, MCI; Steve Batho, MCI; Paul Sanders, Cline Tours; David Warren, New Flyer; and Bronwyn Wilson, IMG.

Motor Coach Industries knows when it comes to innovation in the motor coach industry, seeing is believing. And from October 16-18, members of the International Motorcoach Group saw the future during a visit to the Vehicle Innovation Center (VIC), collaboration between MCI and New Flyer. Located on New Flyer of America's manufacturing campus in Anniston, Alabama, the VIC features a lab and education center dedicated to exploring developments in propulsion, vehicle connectivity and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), and design for future buses and coaches. IMG members are the first private sector transportation operators to visit the VIC which opened last October.

The three-day exploration covered MCI's deployment of ADAS systems, vehicle connectivity through telematics and the battery-electric platform coming to MCI models in 2020.

Attendees learned how ADAS, available on MCI J-Series models, provides a step towards autonomous coaches. MCI's best-in-class ADAS features collision mitigation upgrades to latest-generation Bendix Fusion that integrates a forward-facing camera with vehicle recognition software to detect and stop for stationary objects; the system also offers lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition and more, along with a new optional 360-Degree Camera featuring reverse sensing and audible warning alert. IMG members also got to test the technologies on MCI coaches at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

David Warren, director of sustainable transportation at New Flyer, gave a presentation titled "The Essentials of Electric Bus and Coach Technology and Deployment," offering an in-depth review of lithium-ion batteries, propulsion motors, high-voltage power conversion, and equipment supporting multiple types of industry charging standards.

Attendees also took part in hands-on Learning Lab sessions, including experiencing an electric bus driving simulator that helps drivers hone regenerative braking techniques to increase range and energy efficiency. They also observed how today's telematics that connect vehicles paves the way for greater efficiency in electric coaches. MCI's long-range battery-electric J4500e prototype is already setting benchmarks in test-runs with production scheduled to begin in 2020.

"Our members learned a lot from both days — there's nothing like having a firsthand opportunity to experience product as we did and to learn so much more about electrification at the VIC," said IMG President Bronwyn Wilson. "Only such an event can provide so much information."

IMG is a membership organization comprised of 57 North American coach operators that work together to elevate the standard of service for passengers. Its members represent some of the best operators in the industry.

The Anniston visit drew many responses. Geoff Lynch, President of Hampton Jitney, said, "I learned a lot about where motor coach technology is headed. The MCI and New Flyer relationship looks like a real positive for our industry." Dan Martin, president of Karst Stage, added: "It is meaningful when the sales and marketing team engages the end user as much as you (MCI) do."