| MCI J-Series | |
|---|---|
 A post-facelift J4500 operating as aGoogle employee bus | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Motor Coach Industries |
| Production | 2001-present |
| Assembly | Crookston, Minnesota, United States Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Tri-axlecoach |
| Body style | Single-deckercoach |
| Doors | 1 sedan door, some have 1 wheelchair lift door |
| Floor type | High-floor |
| Chassis | MCI special platform integral |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | Detroit Diesel Series 60, Detroit Diesel DD13,Caterpillar C12, Caterpillar C13,Cummins ISM,Cummins ISX,Cummins X12 |
| Capacity | Up to 44(J3500) Up to 60(J4500) |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 35 feet (11 m)(J3500) 45 feet (14 m)(J4500) |
| Width | 102 inches (2.6 m) |
| Height | 141 inches (3.6 m) |
| Curb weight | 42,000 lbsGVWR(J3500) 54,000 lbs GVWR(J4500) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor |
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TheMCI J-Series is a model ofmotorcoach bus produced byMotor Coach Industries (MCI). The bus is primarily used bytour and charter bus operators. It is sold alongside theMCI D-Series bus, primarily used byintercity bus services andpublic transit operators.
The J-Series was introduced in 2001 initially as a mid-range supplement for the D- and E-Series coaches in the MCI coach lineup. It is manufactured at theNFI Group facility inCrookston, Minnesota,United States as well as inWinnipeg, Manitoba,Canada.[1][2]
In 1998, MCI introduced the 102-EL3. Also known as theRenaissance, it was a new coach introduced to compete with thePrevost H-Series. The E-Series featured an all new body (designed byDesignworks) and it introduced many new features such as a curved stepwell, a steerable tag axle, electronically controlled air suspension and disc brakes.[3] Due to the rushed development of the E-Series, some of the coach's features were unreliable at the beginning prompting MCI to develop a companion coach model. In 2001, the 102-EL3 was renamed to the E4500 bringing it in line with MCI's new nomenclature for their coaches.
In 2001, MCI introduced the J-Series at the 2001 UMA Motorcoach Expo. The J-Series retained most of the Designworks designed body from the E-Series but with minor changes. However, many of the new on-board technologies on the E-Series were removed in order to appeal to customers looking for a lower-cost coach with a modern design but with simpler on-board technologies.[4]
The J4500 was introduced in 2001 as a model to fill the gap in MCI's product line between the D4500 and E4500. It combined the modern design of the E-Series with the more basic on-board technologies of the D-Series. In 2004, MCI added disc brakes as an option. In 2010, MCI added its "Bendix" suspension system to the J4500, improving handling.[5]
In 2013, MCI updated the design of the J-Series with re-designed headlights and a more squared off body. As well as changes to the exterior new features were also added in 2013 such as a steerable tag axle. Due to the added features and new design, the E-Series was quietly discontinued. In 2018, the interior was re-designed and luggage lights were added as an option.[5][6]
In May 2018, MCI announced that its prototypebattery-electric J-Series coach (then known as theJ4500e) successfully completed phase one of its testing.[7] In 2021, MCI announced the production electric version of the J-Series called the J4500 CHARGE, with the "CHARGE" suffix meaning "Battery-Electric" inNFI Group's nomenclature. The J4500 CHARGE has a range of 200 miles and is powered bySiemens electric motors.[8]
The J3500 was introduced in 2018 as a shorter 35-foot version of the existing 45-foot model to compete with other similar 35-foot coaches such as theTEMSA TS-35 andVan Hool CX35. The J3500 is MCI's first 35-foot coach since the discontinuation of theDINA produced F3500. The first J3500 was delivered to Tuscaloosa Charter Service in January 2019.[9]
