By Rick Mullen,
Busline Magazine Associate Editor

The following import/export categories include motor buses, coaches, trolley buses and gyrobuses.

The U.S. Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, U.S. Census Bureau trade figures for June 2021 indicated vehicle imports were up in four categories outlined, compared to June 2020. For the first half of 2021, vehicles imports were down in four categories, compared to the first half of 2020.

The United States imported 84 vehicles in June 2021, down 19 percent from 104 vehicles for June 2020. For the first half of 2021, the United States imported 617 vehicles, down 14 percent from 716 vehicles for the first half of 2020.

Canada sent 562 vehicles to the United States during the first half of 2021.

The average price per vehicle for June 2021 was $303,938, up 39 percent from $218,179 for June 2020. The average price per vehicle for the first half of 2021 was $308,831, up 7 percent from $288,779 for the first half of 2020.

The United States received six vehicles in June 2021, up 100 percent from three vehicles during June 2020. For the first half of 2021, the United States imported 16 vehicles, down from 105 vehicles for the first half of 2020.

The United States imported 12 vehicles from Canada during the first half of 2021.

The average price per vehicle in June 2021 was $155,055, down 40 percent from $257,070 for June 2020. The average price per vehicle for the first half of 2021 was $172,435, up from $66,699 for the first half of 2020.

The United States imported 23 vehicles during June 2021, up 44 percent from 16 vehicles for June 2020. During the first half of 2021, 39 vehicles were imported, down from 105 vehicles for the first half of 2020.

All of the vehicles were imported from Canada during the first half of 2021.

The average price per vehicle for June 2021 was $245,824, up 3 percent from $239,337 for June 2020. The average price for the first half of 2021 was $306,108, up 24 percent from $247,444 for the first half of 2020.

8702403100 Public-Transport Type Passenger Motor Vehicles With Electric Motor Only, For Transport Of 16 Or More Persons Including Driver

The United States imported 61 vehicles during June 2021, up from eight vehicles for June 2020. During the first half of 2021, 151 vehicles were received, up from 63 vehicles for the first half of 2020.

China shipped 98 vehicles during the first half of 2021.

The average price per vehicle for June 2021 was $153,120, down 16 percent from $181,564 for June 2020. The average price for the first half of 2021 was $172,098, up from $65,068 for the first half of 2020.

The United States imported four vehicles during June 2021, down 75 percent from 16 vehicles for June 2020. During the first half of 2021, 41 vehicles were imported, down 34 percent from 62 vehicles for the first half of 2020.

China sent 39 vehicles during the first half of 2021.

The average price per vehicle for June 2021 was $7,015, down 19 percent from $8,691 for June 2020. The average price for the first half of 2021 was $8,908, down 7 percent from $9,598 for the first half of 2020.

The United States imported 112 vehicles during June 2021, down less than 1 percent from 113 vehicles for June 2020. During the first half of 2021, 655 vehicles were received, up 6 percent from 619 vehicles for the first half of 2020.

Canada sent 653 vehicles to the United States during the first half of 2021.

The average price per vehicle for June 2021 was $75,404, down 22 percent from $96,283 for June 2020. The average price per vehicle for the first half of 2021 was $119,533, up 15 percent from $103,821 for the first half of 2020.

The United States imported 64 vehicles during June 2021, up 83 percent from 35 vehicles for June 2020. During the first half of 2021, 397 vehicles were received, up 37 percent from 289 vehicles for the first half of 2020.

Canada sent 367 vehicles to the United States during the first half of 2021.

The average price per vehicle for June 2021 was $42,803, up 1 percent from $42,319 for June 2020. The average price per vehicle for the first half of 2021 was $38,763, down 15 percent from $45,834 for the first half of 2020.

EXPORTS

Export totals for June 2021 were up in four categories, compared to June 2020. Three categories reported decreases for the first half of 2021, compared to the first half of 2020.

The United States exported 601 vehicles during June 2021, up 9 percent from 552 vehicles for June 2020. During the first half of 2021, 2,649 vehicles were sent, down 16 percent from 3,170 vehicles for the first half of 2020.

Canada received 1,157 vehicles during the first half of 2021, while Mexico imported 971 vehicles.

The average price per vehicle for June 2021 was $69,010, down 4 percent from $71,777 for June 2020. The average price per vehicle for the first half of 2021 was $50,318, down 25 percent from $67,234 for the first half of 2020.

8702200000 Public-Transport Vehicles With Both Compression-Ignition Internal Combustion Piston Engine (Diesel Or Semi-Diesel) & Electric Motor

The United States shipped 53 vehicles in June 2021, up from 11 vehicles for June 2020. During the first half of 2021, 441 vehicles were exported, up from 192 for the first half of 2020.

Canada received 213 vehicles during the first half of 2021, while Mexico imported 167 vehicles.

The average price per vehicle for June 2021 was $70,044, up from $12,385 for June 2020. The average price for the first half of 2021 was $35,426, down 20 percent from $44,026 for the first half of 2020.

8702300000 Public-Transport Type Passenger Motor Vehicles With Both Spark Ignition Internal Combustion Piston Engine & Electric Motor

The United States exported 32 vehicles in June 2021, up 45 percent from 22 vehicles for June 2020. During the first half of 2021, 222 vehicles were sent, down 25 percent from 297 vehicles for the first half of 2020.

Mexico received 90 vehicles during the first half of 2021.

The average price per vehicle for June 2021 was $30,613, up 32 percent from $23,258 for June 2020. The average price for the first half of 2021 was $24,586, down 23 percent from $31,817 for the first half of 2020.

8702400000 Public-Transport Type Passenger Motor Vehicles With Only Electric Motor For Propulsion

The United States shipped seven vehicles in June 2021, up from two vehicles for June 2020. During the first half of 2021, 369 vehicles were exported, down from 1,360 vehicles for the first half of 2020.

Canada received 363 vehicles during the first half of 2021.

The average price per vehicle for June 2021 was $137,220, down 19 percent from $169,226 for June 2020. The average price per vehicle for the first half of 2021 was $48,527, up 37 percent from $35,360 for the first half of 2020.

Click on statistics to open .pdf file

From MCI
Nashville’s WeGo Public Transit Adds 10 High Capacity Coaches To Its Fleet

Motor Coach Industries (MCI), a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc., has received a new contract from WeGo Public Transit for 10 clean-diesel MCI D4500 coaches. The coaches will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2021.

WeGo Public Transit provides public transportation in the Nashville (TN) metropolitan area and Davidson County, delivering over 9 million annual rides.

“The purchase, supported by Federal Transit Administration funds, replaces end-of-life vehicles and expands WeGo Public Transit’s fleet with high capacity coaches that deliver on its objective to deliver a robust, efficient transit network,” according to a press release.

“For nearly 20 years, we have supported WeGo Public Transit with reliable mobility, including more than 50 transit buses and 10 motorcoaches,” said Chris Stoddart, president, North America Bus and Coach. "Our new D4500 coaches provide dependable, safe, and reliable transportation, high capacity, and exceptional passenger comfort. Together with WeGo, we are continuing the advancement of accessible public transit with efficient mobility.”

“MCI’s D-Series workhorse coaches are Buy America Compliant, Altoona tested, and built with MCI quality to deliver a combination of dependability, passenger comfort, and high-quality performance,” according to the release.

For more information, visit mcicoach.com/coach/d-series/features.

From IndyGo
Music In Transit Returns For Third Season

Music in Transit, an award-winning concert web series, returned for its third season September 1. The series showcases eight local Indianapolis-based acts across multiple genres performing sets on an IndyGo rapid transit bus.

Music in Transit was created in 2019 alongside the Arts Council of Indianapolis and Square Cat Vinyl, a coffee and record shop. The goal was to celebrate the local arts community as well as the expansion of public transit, with the launch of the Red Line, Indianapolis’ first bus rapid transit (BRT) line.

Since its inaugural season, the series has received four Emmy nominations, with one win for outstanding audio in 2019. The series also received Indy Chamber’s 2020 Monumental Award for public art.

Link Transit Holds Ribbon Cutting To Celebrate Electrification Of Fleet

Pictured left to right are Link Transit Board Chair Rob Tidd; Link General Manager Richard DeRock; Momentum Dynamics CEO Andy Daga; WSDOT Secretary Roger Millar; Washington U.S. Senator Patty Murray’s aid, Raquel Crowley; and, FTA Region 10 Administrator Linda Gehrke at the ribbon cutting commemorating the completion of Link’s electric bus project.

Link Transit has officially placed into service 10 35-foot BYD K9S battery electric buses supported by four 300kW Momentum Dynamics inductive charging stations. This milestone was celebrated with a recent ribbon cutting ceremony at Columbia Station, in Wenatchee, WA.

“The event marked the completion of wireless charger installation at the station and caps 12 years of groundbreaking work to create a fully functional fleet of full-sized extended-range electric transit vehicles capable of traveling the distances demanded of the rural region Link serves,” according to a press release.

“Link’s project reduces vehicle emissions, creates a cleaner and quieter environment, and saves taxpayer money with reliable, low maintenance vehicles running on inexpensive, renewable locally generated hydropower.”

“We have pushed the technology at Link Transit,” said General Manager Richard DeRock. “We really are a national model for how rural public transportation companies can lead the nation as we build a clean energy economy for America. We have shown that this technology can work in real-world operation on a daily basis, in a variety of conditions.

“These are the third generation of battery electric buses that Link Transit has been working with since the first five 22-foot eBus electric trolleys were delivered in 2014, following numerous delays in production. The original purchase was funded by TIGGER, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The first purchase of BYD buses in 2016 showed a variety of production and technology issues that affected the reliability and performance of the buses in the daily operation. These problems were worked out in the buses that Link is presently operating.

“These electric buses are the most reliable in our fleet and are operating about 30 percent of the total fleet miles. Operating costs for these buses are about one-half a diesel or gasoline powered vehicle,” said DeRock. “Not only are they practical from an environmental perspective, but they make sense financially.”

The 300kW Momentum Dynamics inductive wireless chargers are the first of their type in the world to be used in daily operation, and will work on any type of battery electric bus. They allow buses to charge for a few minutes at the end of each route, and not come out of service for an extended period. The range on these buses increases from about 200 miles, on a single battery charge, to over 350 miles with periodic charging.

Link plans to replace aging diesel and gasoline powered buses with battery electric buses, and expects to see about 50 percent of its full-size buses be electric by 2023.

Link Transit is a small transit system located in central Washington state and serves a population of about 115,000 within an area of approximately 3,500 square miles.

Established in 1991, Link Transit currently operates 20 fixed-routes, two dial-a-ride services and paratransit service with a fleet of about 65 full size and cutaways buses, including10 battery electric buses. Annual ridership is about 1 million passengers.

For more information, visit byd.com.

Reyco Granning Awarded Sixth U.S. Patent On ComfortMaster® Technology

“ComfortMaster® is the next generation of independent front suspensions from Reyco Granning. The system provides a combination of responsive handling and class-leading steer angle to increase driver confidence and improve maneuverability,” according to the company.

“The ComfortMaster® represents our most thoroughly validated product ever. Because this technology is so unique, we thought it would boost confidence to go above and beyond our full menu of simulations and lab tests, so, we took a vehicle to the Navistar Proving Grounds and ran it through the rugged Altoona commercial bus route.

“At 275 pounds less than the legacy product, we offer a true 60° wheel cut angle, the highest allowed on 365 tires yielding maneuverability in tight spaces. Our system is also compatible with 385 tires. With ComfortMaster®, your chassis will be safer and will inspire confidence without sacrificing ride quality.”

For more information, visit www.reycogranning.com.

XL Fleet Partners With ARBOC To Offer Hybrid Electric Bus Option

XL Hybrid system can now be ordered as an option on ARBOC Freedom low-floor buses sold through ARBOC’s North American dealer network

Wheelchair-accessible hybrid buses are built on the GM 4500 chassis, and require no electric vehicle charging infrastructure

According to a press release, “XL Fleet Corp. and ARBOC Specialty Vehicles, LLC, (ARBOC), a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc., have announced a partnership to electrify ARBOC Freedom low-floor buses with the XL Hybrid (XLH™) electric propulsion system. The wheelchair-accessible buses are built on the GM 4500 chassis, and are now available for purchase with an installed XL Hybrid system through the ARBOC North American dealer network.

“Through the partnership, 24-foot and 29-foot ARBOC low-floor bus models are available, for the first time, as hybrid electric units, providing a cost-effective option for customers looking to improve fuel economy, lower emissions and advance their sustainability goals without adding charging infrastructure or disrupting existing operations. The XL Hybrid electric system runs in parallel to the OEM vehicle drivetrain, helping to slow the vehicle down during deceleration and providing an electric assist during acceleration throughout normal drive cycles, reducing fuel consumption and lowering emissions in standard gas-powered vehicles.

“Individual partners within the ARBOC North American dealer network are now authorized to sell the XL Fleet electrification system as an available option on their buses.”

“The ARBOC Freedom is an innovative low-floor platform allowing riders using wheelchairs and other mobility devices to safely and comfortably get where they need to go. Now, they can do so in a cleaner, greener vehicle,” said Doug Minix, ARBOC’s general manager. “XL Fleet’s innovative hybrid electric upfit technology gives our customers an opportunity to drive more sustainable versions of the ARBOC vehicle lineup, without compromising our reliability, while enhancing our world-class performance.”

For more information, visit arbocsv.com.

Martin Wawra Named To The Management Board Of Voith Turbo

Martin Wawra, previously managing director of Voith Turbo in China, and the joint ventures with CRRC, recently was named head of the Voith Mobility Division, and has become a member of the management board of Voith Turbo. He succeeds Cornelius Weitzmann, who was named chairman of the board of Voith Turbo, a position previously held by Dr. Uwe Knotzer.

“Martin Wawra is an experienced manager from the Heidenheim-based technology group's own ranks who has excellent knowledge of the turbo business,” according to a press release. “He joined the Voith Group in 1994 as an international sales engineer. He had been the managing director of Voith Turbo Scharfenberg GmbH & Co. KG in Salzgitter, since 2001, and served as a member of the Voith Turbo management team. Since 2011, he has been responsible, in various management positions, for the successful development of production and construction in China along important growth projects. He also headed sales for the Mobility division throughout Asia.”

For more information, visit voith.com.