Biz Briefs covers the latest moves in the industry. Here's the latest from Motiv, The Routing Company, and Via.

Motiv’s Electric Shuttle Bus Completes Altoona Testing

Motiv Power Systems announced its electric shuttle bus, built in partnership with Turtle Top and Davey Coach, successfully completed the Federal Transit Authority’s (FTA) Bus Test Program in Altoona, Pa.

Motiv’s shuttle bus performed well across all categories and received an overall score of 89.1 on a 100-point scale — the highest score ever achieved for a medium-duty electric bus tested in a seven year/200,000 miles or higher service-life category, according to the company.

“Our high score unequivocally proves that our all-electric vehicles can be trusted to operate with exemplary safety, reliability, and durability in demanding transit service — all while reducing emissions, promoting sustainability, and improving overall operational efficiency,” said Jim Castelaz, founder and chief technology and revenue officer at Motiv Power Systems. “Now that we qualify for federal incentives, local and state governments will be able to more easily access our vehicles and electrify their fleets, without compromising on safety or performance.”

The Routing Co. Launches Pingo Rural Package

The Routing Company (TRC) launched its new Pingo Rural™ package, which is now available globally.

Pingo Rural is a package containing preset configurations optimized to rural customers and housed within TRC’s Pingo platform, encompassing constraints and optimization tailored to the needs of sprawling rural deployments. It includes the ability to operate all modes — fixed routes, on-demand, paratransit, and shuttle routes — and to add Pingo features a la carte as desired.

TRC’s Pingo Rural package helps alleviate pain points created by inefficient transportation deployments by right-sizing service based on demand that best fits community needs. In turn, this delivers more accessible, flexible, and convenient modes of transit, meaning greater utilization of an existing fleet, meaning more people per vehicle per revenue hour, according to the company.

New Jersey County, Via Team for On-Demand Program

New Jersey’s Middlesex County is teaming with Via to launch RIDE On Demand — an affordable app-based public transit service to begin to address the County’s transit gaps, or areas where buses and trains cannot efficiently serve.

The City of New Brunswick will be the first to participate in this one-year pilot program. RIDE On Demand will provide safe, easy, and flexible transportation for $3 per rider. To encourage and familiarize individuals who reside, work, study, or visit New Brunswick with RIDE On Demand, the service will offer unlimited free rides for the first two introductory weeks.

Middlesex County RIDE On Demand’s app and operations will be provided by Via. After someone books a RIDE On Demand trip, Via’s algorithms will match other riders headed in the same direction into one vehicle. Riders will be directed to a nearby corner for pickup and drop-off. The result is an efficient service that minimizes lengthy detours while providing near-universal transit coverage in areas that buses and trains cannot reach.