FlixBus, MCI Team to Pilot Electric Coaches in L.A.

FlixBus recently debuted its first electric bus pilot program in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, as it rolled out an MCI J4500 CHARGE™ — a zero-emission version of the industry’s best-selling J series tour and charter luxury coaches, which leverages EV technology from New Flyer and delivers over 200 miles of range, while also delivering enhanced safety features.

Flixbus has long made sustainability a key part of its mission to bring low-cost, convenient, eco-friendly transportation for everyone throughout its growing network of 200-plus destinations in the U.S. and Canada.

In addition to biogas and hydrogen-powered bus pilot programs in Europe, FlixBus has been a market leader in supporting the development of carbon neutral, fully-electric intercity buses in North America. The company was the first to run an intercity electric bus pilot in 2019 between Sacramento and San Francisco and the first interstate electric bus pilot in U.S. history in 2021 between Seattle and Eugene, Ore.

The chief goals of this pilot program are to bring EV service to more passengers and test how bus partners can utilize an EV bus as part of their day-to-day operations for almost two weeks. To date, FlixBus has brought electric bus pilot programs to seven cities on the West Coast.

“Since our entry into the U.S. market in 2018, FlixBus has believed in the potential of the U.S. intercity bus system,” said Pierre Gourdain, Managing Director of FlixBus USA. “With this project, we continue our path of providing millions of people sustainable and affordable mobility and help ensure that intercity buses are central to the green mobility revolution.”

FlixBus’ local bus partner, Alvand Transportation, is running the electric bus in downtown Los Angeles along one of its busiest bus routes in the U.S. for 11 days. Alvand partnered with FlixBus in 2018, making them one of the first FlixBus partners in the U.S. and is known for their consistent high-quality service and is keenly interested in electrifying their fleet in the future.