Motor Coach Industries (MCI), a U.S. subsidiary of NFI Group Inc., (NFI) has announced a major breakthrough for the company’s new D45 CRT LE: passing the mandated U.S. Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Altoona test. FTA’s bus testing program, which operates out of Altoona, Pennsylvania, is crucial, because it rigorously tests the reliability of all new bus models and is a requirement for federally funded public transit systems procurement.
The model sent to Altoona received a 10-month battery of tests that accelerated its 12-year, 500,000 mile service life. According to Paul Fazio, MCI engineer and director of new product development, the model was set for the heaviest level of customer usage, just shy of the model’s full GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) of 54,000 lbs., to equal a real-life, rush hour load at peak travel time.
“We anticipated positive results because the model’s platform is based on our J-series structural design, which has proven to be very robust in all types of operating environments,” said Fazio. “The D45 CRT LE passed its durability tests with flying colors. This is a significant outcome as the platform will also be the basis for our battery-electric D-model planned for a production start in 2020.”
MCI was one of North America’s first motorcoach manufacturers to test at Altoona, submitting a 102 DL 3 to the facility in 1995. The company also placed the industry’s first hybrid-electric coach through Altoona testing in 2008. Today, the D4500 and its variants are the leader in commuter express bus service throughout North America.
The ADA- and Buy America-compliant MCI D45 CRT LE incorporated a whole new design process at MCI, which included direct participation from various advocacy groups. The mid-vehicle vestibule features an automatic curb-level ramp that enables most mobility devices swift entry and exit. And its forward door has an enhanced ergonomic spiral entryway to facilitate ease of boarding.
The D45 CRT LE is MCI’s first complete redesign of an MCI model in 20 years, and the company is planning to return to Altoona with other variants of the new design. “We are proud of the hard work of our engineers,” said Ian Smart, MCI president. “We are very confident our customers will experience a long vehicle life with this versatile model, which will deliver a whole new standard of passenger accessibility and reliability.”
