Brent Maitland, VP, marketing and product planning, at MCI joined METRO Magazine GM James Blue atop a bus on the BusCon show floor to discuss the company’s focus on innovation, including the new J3500, which the company showcased for the first time at a major expo at this year’s BusCon, where they also won an Innovative Solutions Award.

Maitland discusses how customer feedback played a large role in MCI deciding to develop a smaller version of its flagship J4500, with the company set to go into full production in early 2019.

He also talks about the company’s move to battery-electric, as well as how its parent company, the NFI Group, recently launched Vehicle Innovation Center in Anniston, Ala.

Maitland explains that the center is a place to showcase the battery-electric technology, as well as the charging infrastructure necessary, for those interested in making the move to electric buses.  

“If people are serious about making the switch, then we want to be sure to take the time to educate them,” says Maitland, who also talks about how swiftly he thinks the technology will take hold in the motorcoach market.