Vicinity Motor Corp. (TSX-V:VMC) revealed that it has received orders from two additional paratransit bus makers, Diamond Coach and Coach and Equipment, for its VMC Optimal E1 Electric Chassis.
The Vancouver-based supplier of electric vehicles (EVs), said Olathe Fleet Solutions, a commercial truck dealership and fleet management company in Kansas, facilitated the orders for the five VMC Optimal E1 Electric Chassis.
The chassis orders will expand VMC Optimal's reach in the paratransit bus market that serves elderly and disabled federal transit programs and other critical passenger transport market segments. Diamond Coach is headquartered in Oswego, Kansas and since 1989 has built a reputation of offering rust-free, impact-resistant, ADA accessible commercial buses.
READ: Vicinity Motor wins US$12M order for 100 VMC 1200 electric trucks
Meanwhile, the second order is from New York-based Coach and Equipment, which since 1948 has provided specialized transportation solutions and paratransit buses to transit agencies in America.
The company said the electric vehicle chassis will start to be delivered in the first quarter of 2022 and continue through the second quarter.
"The partnership with Olathe, a leading distributor of VMC Optimal-EV's all-electric product line, continues to expand - adding two more world class bus body manufacturers to our growing list of Optimal EV body partners," Vicinity Motor founder CEO William Trainer said in a statement.
"The Optimal E1 design is superior from a safety, technology, and integration standpoint, which are all critical factors for body manufacturers to consider. The Optimal E1 features a between the frame rail battery installation configuration that provides maximum safety and protection of the Proterra Powered battery pack,” he added.
Trainer noted that the frame rails also protect high-voltage cables and battery cooling lines adding to “reliability and resilience in the rigors of everyday bus operation.”
“Additionally, the positioning of the drive motor behind the rear axle provides better weight distribution and traction while eliminating the complexity of competing designs,” added Trainer.
The Vicinity Motors boss noted that the company is seeing “increasing interest” from customers seeking zero-emission electric vehicles for paratransit, which includes commercial trucks and buses, ambulances, recreational vehicles, and fleet trucks.
“The VMC Optimal EVs flexible design can suit a wide variety of potential vehicle applications,” said Trainer. “We look forward to additional order announcements in the months ahead as we continue to ramp sales of our all-electric vehicle line."
Vicinity is a North American supplier of electric vehicles for both public and commercial enterprise use. It supplies its flagship electric, CNG and clean-diesel Vicinity buses, the VMC 1200 electric truck and a VMC Optimal-EV shuttle bus.
Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com
Follow her on Twitter: @UttaraProactive