MCI wins order for 106 hybrid coaches

摘要

USA - Schaumburg, Illinois-based Motor Coach Industries (MCI) has signed an order for 102 diesel-electric hybrid commuter coaches, with deliveries scheduled to be completed by the end of October. The order for the D4500 hybrid vehicles follows a six-week trial in March/April this year, which, revealed a 25% fuel saving on identical routes trialled alongside the same vehicle with a conventional diesel engine. The vehicles, with the exception of five (which are for airport use), are to be used on dedicated park and ride commuter runs in the Houston Metropolitan area. Once the park and ride commuter traffic has been met, the vehicles are parked up in a dedicated depot and recharged from the mains. This recharging process, remarked a spokesman, permits not only the batteries to be recharged but allows for the vehicle interior and the batteries to be cooled for half an hour before the afternoon's service schedule; thus removing the need to run the diesel engine for up to three-quarters of an hour to achieve the same level of temperature pull down within the passenger compartment of the coach.