USA Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) has the first batch of its 95 new Motor Coach Industries (MCI) Commuter Coaches, fuelled by compressed natural gas (CNG).
They will be used on LADOT’s Commuter Express service, replacing 95 older, diesel-powered coaches, making the fleet 100% CNG.
The coaches are the only commercially available commuter vehicles meeting requirements set by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the California Air Resource Board and the South Coast Air Quality Management District for public transit operators.
They also feature three bike racks and increased seating for 49 reclining seats (previously 45).
The vehicles are powered by Cummins ISL G 8.9 litre, 320hp engines.
Just under $48.5m of the $67m investment was funded by the FTA, while the remainder was paid for with ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) funding.
