Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

The company, which manufactured the MV-1 accessible vehicle, had a $50 million Department of Energy loan.

The first 10 MV-1s are in service and the remaining 30 should be in service within two months.

Accessibility Taxi began operating 15 new ADA-compliant MV-1 taxis in Prince George’s County, which lagged behind many other areas of Washington, D.C., in terms of wheelchair-accessible taxi service.

Metro Mobility Management Group is using 60 MV-1 vehicles to provide door-to-door Palm Tran Connection service.

The fleet includes 45 vehicles that run on B20 biodiesel. At peak times, there are 20 to 22 vehicles on the road and 12 to 15 in the evenings. Peak school year ridership is between 40,000 to 50,000 passengers a week.

MetroAccess customers will benefit from shorter boarding times as a result of the MV-1 ramp design, which allows customers to board without the use of a lift. The vehicles cost about $50,000 each.

The company also announced it entered into an Amended and Restated Consulting and Brokerage Agreement with MV Sales & Leasing Inc. (MVSL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MV Transportation Inc., pursuant to which MVSL will act as a non-exclusive consultant and broker of the MV-1.

The vehicle is the first purpose-built vehicle for both ambulatory and mobility impaired customers to meet ADA vehicle guidelines. It seats up to four passengers with a dedicated space for a wheelchair or scooter situated next to the operator.

With a total value of $106,000, the MV-1s will replace two of the older vans in the 46-vehicle Lift Program fleet, which is being converted from diesel to CNG using federal stimulus money.

The New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission approved The Vehicle Production Group's MV-1 motor vehicle for use as a New York City taxicab. Approval allows owners of the more than 13,000 taxis currently operating in the city to begin replacing their vehicles with the fully accessible MV‐1s.