The Curious Coachowner Number 282 of a Series “The Curious Coachowner” is a question and answer column that provides simple answers to simple questions that are too short to warrant a full article or inclusion in one of our regular columns. We will accept reasonably simple technical or historical questions on commercial coaches or converted coach shells by letter, fax, e-mail or phone. If our staff is unable to answer them, we will call upon our panel of experts. Names and addresses should be submitted with your questions, but we will withhold names from publication on request. We reserve the right to modify questions to make them more useful to our readers. Q. What is the story behind the lack of vehicle computer chips and how is this impacting the bus industry? –– Reader in California
A. The reason for the shortage of computer chips seems to vary depending on who you ask. One answer is that a chip factory burned down and production fell behind. Another story is that chip orders declined during the pandemic and the industry has to gear up again. This has had a major impact on some automotive, small truck and van production lines. In turn, the chip shortage has created a lack of vehicles on the used market. To the best of our knowledge, the biggest impact on the bus industry is with the bodyon-chassis, small bus and cutaway markets. The chassis for these smaller buses require chips similar to autos, small trucks and vans and hence are in short supply. Information that we were able to obtain suggests that production of chassis for these small buses will be very limited in 2022 and 2023. They should increase somewhat in 2024 but may not return to normal until 2025. What this means for the bus industry is that we might see some movement to short coaches in both purchases and charters to make up for the shortage of body-on-chassis buses and cutaways. It will be interesting to see what happens.
Q. I enjoyed the article on John Madden and his buses on the February issue. Does anyone know where those buses are today? –– Northeast Bus Operator 38 • National Bus Trader / March, 2022
A. We ended up asking Mike Middaugh at Coach Quarters in Ohio since he is our expert in converted coach matters. Here is what we found out. Madden Cruiser #1, the MCI 102A3, was used by John Madden for his football announcer trips for seven years. It was then acquired by Dick Zimmerman, a producer from the Los Angeles area who moved to Idaho. In later years John reacquired the coach and used it privately. In 2005, he allowed the coach to be used as a mobile command post during the Katrina disaster. Today this coach is in the Pro-Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Madden Cruiser #2 was an MCI 102DL3. After John moved up to his next coach, this coach went back to Custom Coach in Columbus where it was repainted a simple, dark blue. and was displayed at the 1999 FMCA show in Perry, Georgia. The coach was then purchased by a couple that did computer work for medical facilities. They liked having two bathrooms. We do not know where the coach is today. No one seems to know what happened to Madden Cruiser #3, the first 102EL3. The last two coaches, #4 and #5, have reportedly been resold and are now in California. Q. Do you know when we might be able to see a printed edition of National Bus Trader again? –– Several Readers
A. The basic answer is that the return to a printed edition will depend in large part on a return to normal bus sales and its corresponding normal marketing. If every reader purchased five new buses, it would probably work. Even if that happened, we would probably retain the digital edition. There are several reasons for this including the fact that readers in foreign countries like being able to get the digital edition much quicker than the printed edition. Some readers are happy with the ability to download a PDF version of every issue to archive and print. Others comment that the digital edition is more timely and takes much less time to distribute than print and mailing. With our sister publication, Bus Tours Magazine, the digital edition is up on the Web two weeks before the print edition arrives.
From where we stand, we do see the industry starting to come back, particularly on the operating end. The bus tour planners and operators deserve a pat on the back for getting bus tours back on the road and leading the return of the industry. Armed with CERTS money, the coach operators are back on the road with scheduled service increasing. Many operators are now working on bringing the charter market back. Taking advantage of federal funding, some transit operators are placing orders for new buses. Many of these are Zero Emission Buses with battery-electric or hydrogen fuel cell power. In addition, the school bus operators have made an impressive recovery. With the new Infrastructure Act we can look forward to seeing more school buses go with batteryelectric operation. Right now our biggest need is to get the manufacturers and suppliers on board with reconnecting the bus industry through increased marketing. Our goal here at National Bus Trader is to help those who make an effort because 2022 will probably see changes in market share for those companies that make an effort.
Q. What are the advantages of hydrogen fuel cell power for buses? I see several transit operators ordering them. –– Midwest Transit Manager A. Hydrogen fuel cell buses use simple hydrogen for fuel. It is combined in a fuel cell with oxygen from the air. The result is electric power to run the bus and the “exhaust” is clean water. Advantages are that hydrogen is fairly easy to obtain and can be generated from water. You are not dependant on the power grid in case of electrical problems. The bus runs on electrical power which makes it clean, quiet and easy to maintain. Refueling does not take much longer than refueling with diesel.
There are experts suggesting that hydrogen is becoming more popular, and we may be seeing more buses powered by hydrogen fuel cells in the future. Answers not credited to other individuals are provided by Larry Plachno. q
