Delaware Express arrived at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Earth Day Fair in the 2016 clean diesel MCI J4500 it uses to carry the University of Delaware’s 22 athletic teams to their competitions. With nearly zero emissions and generous hip-to-leg room for 56 passengers, Delaware Express removes more than 50 cars from the road.

Delaware Express’ specially designed J4500 features an REI Entertainment System with flat screen monitors, power outlets at each seat and Wi-Fi connectivity assuring athletes, coaches, and other passengers a productive and comfortable trip. The MCI J4500 features include Electronic Stability Control and tire pressure monitoring systems.

“We consider it a privilege to transport these student athletes in such comfortable surroundings with the latest in green technology,” said Gerry Frenze, president of Delaware Express. “Environmentally friendly transportation is really important to the university audience and we’re very proud MCI has created a vehicle that can do it all — passenger comfort, state-of-the-art safety features and the greenest form of transportation on the road.”

Motorcoaches are the most fuel-efficient, per-passenger-mile mode of motor transportation, surpassing the car, plane or train, according to an MCI release. Plus, coaches can travel any road to entertainment, sports and vacation destinations. Increasingly, distance commuters are discovering coach transport for comfort, onboard electronics and express scheduling to their workplace with a clean-air option.

Delaware Express’ commitment to the environment

The Newark, Delaware tour and charter company was founded by Frenze in the early 1980s fresh out of the University of Delaware himself. As a student, he noticed an opportunity for providing safe, economical and environmentally sound group transportation, so he started with airport shuttle vehicles.

Today, Delaware Express is one of the East Coast’s major independent transportation companies, growing fast and going green. At 110 employees and 30 years in business, Delaware Express was the first to feature clean-diesel engine technology throughout its entire 24-coach fleet running from Canada to Florida. The company also has 51 vans, a minibus and one limousine.

It continues to add new coaches featuring the latest in emission control, and also runs its fleet of vans and shuttle buses using alternative fuels. Its fuel conservation efforts include GPS systems on its fleet of motor coaches and a driver policy to limit unnecessary idling.

ABA’s Getting There Greener report

The American Bus Association (ABA) has issued a report from the Union of Concerned Scientists entitled “Getting There Greener: The Guide to Your Lower Carbon Vacation.” The report recommends best vacation travel options for various demographics and endorses coach transportation for “using the lowest carbon dioxide emissions per passenger mile” against all competing forms of road, rail or air transport. It’s a helpful guide in planning carbon-efficient vacation travel. To view the report, click here.