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It’s less than a week before the International Association of Transportation Regulators (IATR) kicks off its 33rd annual conference, which is being held virtually October 26-29.
IATR themed its event “Resilient Regulation!” to showcase the hottest trends that are fueling new transportation policies and initiatives in the wake of COVID-19. Regulators around the world are using the pandemic as an opportunity to accelerate change in numerous key areas, including transportation. The IATR conference is the place where regulators go to swap ideas, share best practices, and help to shape policies that impact us all.
CPUC Commissioner Genevieve Shiroma will be a keynote speaker on October 28
The event, which features dozens of speakers from the regulatory world, just announced that Commissioner Genevieve Shiroma of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will deliver a keynote speech on October 28 at noon ET. She will address for-hire ground transportation regulation of TNCs; Charter Party Carriers (TCPs), which includes black cars, liveries, and limousine services; and Passenger Stage Corporations (fixed route bus services and airport shuttle services). Shiroma will address a variety of regulatory initiatives, including the agency’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and recently passed health and safety regulations.
Shiroma was appointed to the CPUC in 2019, and was a member of the Agricultural Labor Relations Board since 1999, serving as chair various times during her tenure. Previously, she was Chief of the Air Quality Branch at the California Air Resources Board from 1990 to 1999 and as an air quality engineer from 1978 to 1990.
Last week, IATR announced that Daniel Ramot, the cofounder and CEO of Via, will also deliver a keynote speech. He will discuss the future of shared mobility in a post-pandemic era.
You can view the full conference lineup here. Click here to register for the event, or visit iatr.global for additional information.
[10.20.20]
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The American Bus Association (ABA) and Busworld, a leading international exhibition exclusively for the bus and motorcoach industry, announced that the inaugural Busworld North America 2021 in Baltimore will move from January to June 19-21.
Busworld is the largest international bus show in the world with events in six countries. Its biennial event in Belgium brings in 60,000 industry professionals from around the world.
"We are excited that Busworld agreed with us to move the inaugural Busworld North America to June to be held in conjunction with ABA's Marketplace," said ABA President & CEO Peter Pantuso. "The industry has been decimated by COVID-19, but so many of our members and industry colleagues are focused on rebuilding and having the show move to June when our members are able to travel again signals that we will be here for them in recovery. We expect this to be the largest event for motorcoach operators in the North America in 2021."
Busworld North America will bring together manufacturers and suppliers from around the world to display their products and serve as a platform for industry leaders to reconnect, rebuild their business in the ever-evolving market landscape, and learn. The Busworld Academy is recognized for its inclusion of key industry influencers such as presidents of major bus and motorcoach operators and manufacturers as well as scientists and engineers working on the latest technologies. Past Busworld Academy topics led by international business leaders and journalists included transportation terrorism attacks, industry market forecasts, future products and innovations, safety and maintenance technologies, and more. The Busworld Academy North America, which made its debut during ABA’s Marketplace in Omaha, Neb., brought together thought leaders from around the world to discuss the future of the industry.
"North American manufacturers and the industry have been asking for an every other year show like Busworld for years," said Pantuso. "We are pleased that we were able to partner with Busworld and make that happen with the next show being in held in Detroit in 2023."
The dates for ABA's Marketplace in Baltimore will be June 18-22.
Visit busworld.org or buses.org for more information.
[10.20.20]
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- Category: Industry News
Motor Coach Industries (MCI), a subsidiary of global bus manufacturer NFI Group (NFI), has announced that MCI battery-electric D45 CRTe, D45 CRTe LE, and J4500e coaches have been approved by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP). All three models have been approved for the highest allowable voucher of $150,000 for each MCI battery-electric coach sold in the State of California.
MCI’s D45 CRTe LE Charge Bus
The approval adds to the existing NFI zero-emission heavy-duty transit buses eligible for vouchers, including New Flyer’s 35-, 40-, and 60-foot Xcelsior CHARGE battery-electric and 40 and 60-foot Xcelsior CHARGE H2 fuel-cell electric buses. Vouchers for New Flyer’s heavy-duty transit buses range from $120,000 to $300,000 per bus, depending on the model.
The HVIP program was launched in partnership between CARB and CALSTART to help accelerate early market introduction of clean, low-carbon hybrid and electric vehicles, and is accomplishing this by alleviating the higher incremental cost of advanced vehicles with its innovative voucher incentives.
“New Flyer has supported California’s zero-emission adoption for years, and today we expand our mass transit bus offering with HVIP eligible MCI coaches," said New Flyer & MCI President Chris Stoddart. “Building on decades of New Flyer’s electric bus design, engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing expertise, both the MCI J4500e and all-accessible MCI D45 CRTe LE battery-electric coach models can offer sustainable transportation, eliminating emissions while delivering high-capacity commuter transit through and between urban destinations. MCI electric coaches use high-torque electric drive systems for operation at highway speeds, have long-distance range applications, and deliver plug-in battery charging to 100 percent in less than four hours.”
By alleviating some of the upfront acquisition costs of battery-electric coaches, operators in California can transition their existing fleets faster to fully sustainable propulsion, enabling an exciting step toward a clean air future creating more livable communities and is a win for everyone.
MCI electric coaches are powered by American-made XALT batteries and integrate the design, performance, and technology of New Flyer’s zero-emission transit buses, while leveraging New Flyer Infrastructure Solutions to deliver smart charging that supports successful electric coach deployment.
CARB, part of the California Environmental Protection Agency, is the clean air agency committed to building a greener future. Through its administration of the HVIP program, CARB has catalyzed electric adoption in the region, with a projected achievement of reducing greenhouse gases in California by 40 percent by 2030. CARB helped deploy over 4,000 vehicles and low NOx engines from over 7,000 vouchers that have been funded since 2009.
CALSTART is a member-based national nonprofit focused on building a high-tech clean-transportation industry that creates jobs, cuts air pollution and oil imports, and curbs climate change. It works with the public and private sectors to remove barriers to innovation and drive the industry to a clean and prosperous future.
Visit mcicoach.com for more information.
[10.20.20]