Comments on: Welcome to the 21st Century, NYC buses http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/11/welcome-to-the-21st-century-nyc-buses/ A New York City Subway Blog Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:53:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: End of the DesignLine for new buses :: Second Ave. Sagas http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/11/welcome-to-the-21st-century-nyc-buses/#comment-176939 End of the DesignLine for new buses :: Second Ave. Sagas Thu, 03 Feb 2011 23:23:41 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/11/welcome-to-the-21st-century-nyc-buses/#comment-176939 [...] MTA had high hopes for a battery-powered bus with a turbine engine from DesignLine. The authority ran a test bus that fall and ordered a small series of five in 2009 for a pilot. At the time, these vehicles were [...] [...] MTA had high hopes for a battery-powered bus with a turbine engine from DesignLine. The authority ran a test bus that fall and ordered a small series of five in 2009 for a pilot. At the time, these vehicles were [...]

]]> By: Transit debuts turbine bus of the future :: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/11/welcome-to-the-21st-century-nyc-buses/#comment-64169 Transit debuts turbine bus of the future :: Second Ave. Sagas | A New York City Subway Blog Fri, 28 Aug 2009 05:12:58 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/11/welcome-to-the-21st-century-nyc-buses/#comment-64169 [...] the fall of 2007, the MTA along with Design Line International rolled out a diesel turbine hybrid bus that run on 100 percent battery power. At the time, Transit was set to test the buses in Queens and [...] [...] the fall of 2007, the MTA along with Design Line International rolled out a diesel turbine hybrid bus that run on 100 percent battery power. At the time, Transit was set to test the buses in Queens and [...]

]]> By: cWj http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/11/welcome-to-the-21st-century-nyc-buses/#comment-57053 cWj Mon, 10 Nov 2008 23:00:12 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/11/welcome-to-the-21st-century-nyc-buses/#comment-57053 Well, stand next to an M1A tank and tell me how quiet you think it is....(wokkawokka) Actually, the current hybrids are noticeably quieter than the internal combustion engine (ICE) buses. Anytime a vehicle is driven electrically and just charged with ICE, you won't have as much of the revving we associate with ICE. Those engines do rev higher, but that's only where the generator needs to produce more current to keep the batteries properly filled for a given load. Whether turbine diesel will be quieter than current diesel, I can't say. Do you prefer "whir" or "roar"? Well, stand next to an M1A tank and tell me how quiet you think it is….(wokkawokka)

Actually, the current hybrids are noticeably quieter than the internal combustion engine (ICE) buses. Anytime a vehicle is driven electrically and just charged with ICE, you won’t have as much of the revving we associate with ICE. Those engines do rev higher, but that’s only where the generator needs to produce more current to keep the batteries properly filled for a given load.

Whether turbine diesel will be quieter than current diesel, I can’t say. Do you prefer “whir” or “roar”?

]]> By: Ken http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/11/welcome-to-the-21st-century-nyc-buses/#comment-1557 Ken Sun, 14 Oct 2007 22:09:15 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/11/welcome-to-the-21st-century-nyc-buses/#comment-1557 Will they be QUIETER than the current ones? One thing that annoys me about trucks in general in the city is how obnoxiously loud they are. And the buses are no exception sometimes. Will they be QUIETER than the current ones? One thing that annoys me about trucks in general in the city is how obnoxiously loud they are. And the buses are no exception sometimes.

]]> By: Joyce http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/11/welcome-to-the-21st-century-nyc-buses/#comment-1559 Joyce Sun, 14 Oct 2007 04:07:28 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/11/welcome-to-the-21st-century-nyc-buses/#comment-1559 Some questions: What is the seating configuration inside? Can anyone send pictures? Also, can FTA funds be used to purchase these buses? They seem to be manufactured in New Zealand. Some questions:

What is the seating configuration inside? Can anyone send pictures?

Also, can FTA funds be used to purchase these buses? They seem to be manufactured in New Zealand.

]]> By: Scott http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/11/welcome-to-the-21st-century-nyc-buses/#comment-1552 Scott Fri, 12 Oct 2007 19:05:45 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/11/welcome-to-the-21st-century-nyc-buses/#comment-1552 The article in the times is incorrect - the hybrid buses that are currently running are not like hybrid cars (that is, they have both an electric and mechanical drive train depending on which power source is operational). The hybrid buses running now have an all electric drive train (i.e. no transmission). The diesel engine only turns a generator that powers the electric motors - much like how a train engine works. This allows for the use of a smaller engine, which saves fuel. The electric motors also have better acceleration which is why the drivers like driving them in heavy NYC traffic. The article in the times is incorrect – the hybrid buses that are currently running are not like hybrid cars (that is, they have both an electric and mechanical drive train depending on which power source is operational).

The hybrid buses running now have an all electric drive train (i.e. no transmission). The diesel engine only turns a generator that powers the electric motors – much like how a train engine works. This allows for the use of a smaller engine, which saves fuel. The electric motors also have better acceleration which is why the drivers like driving them in heavy NYC traffic.

]]> By: Benjamin Kabak http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/11/welcome-to-the-21st-century-nyc-buses/#comment-1554 Benjamin Kabak Fri, 12 Oct 2007 13:02:44 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/11/welcome-to-the-21st-century-nyc-buses/#comment-1554 William: People will probably engage in ugly-name calling the first time it doesn't work anyway. NYers demand, for better or worse, 100 percent perfection out of their public transportation system. It allows for little room for error. peter: That's amusing. I like it. I think branding — stations, buses, whatever — is a good way to draw in more money for the Authority, and it's pretty easy to ignore if people think it "mars" the system or something ridiculous like that. William: People will probably engage in ugly-name calling the first time it doesn’t work anyway. NYers demand, for better or worse, 100 percent perfection out of their public transportation system. It allows for little room for error.

peter: That’s amusing. I like it. I think branding — stations, buses, whatever — is a good way to draw in more money for the Authority, and it’s pretty easy to ignore if people think it “mars” the system or something ridiculous like that.

]]> By: peter http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/11/welcome-to-the-21st-century-nyc-buses/#comment-1553 peter Fri, 12 Oct 2007 13:00:12 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/11/welcome-to-the-21st-century-nyc-buses/#comment-1553 No, it's a Wachovia ad (not that there's anything wrong with that). They own the bus, and are letting NYCT operate it. Wachovia is investing in the turbine-hybrid technology. No, it’s a Wachovia ad (not that there’s anything wrong with that). They own the bus, and are letting NYCT operate it. Wachovia is investing in the turbine-hybrid technology.

]]> By: William http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/11/welcome-to-the-21st-century-nyc-buses/#comment-1556 William Fri, 12 Oct 2007 11:53:44 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/11/welcome-to-the-21st-century-nyc-buses/#comment-1556 we arrived in nyc a few weeks ago from san francisco, where the public transportation system is in shambles and seemingly stuck in reverse. we did have nextbus, which gave riders an idea of when the next bus or train would be arriving. unfortunately, too many times did these signs not work. nothing like the false hope of getting to work/home/play on time! the pubtrans system here is so much better than what we experienced in sf, however if these nextbus-like notification systems are to be implemented, they better work or there will be some ugly name calling. we arrived in nyc a few weeks ago from san francisco, where the public transportation system is in shambles and seemingly stuck in reverse. we did have nextbus, which gave riders an idea of when the next bus or train would be arriving.

unfortunately, too many times did these signs not work. nothing like the false hope of getting to work/home/play on time!

the pubtrans system here is so much better than what we experienced in sf, however if these nextbus-like notification systems are to be implemented, they better work or there will be some ugly name calling.

]]> By: Tomás http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/11/welcome-to-the-21st-century-nyc-buses/#comment-1555 Tomás Fri, 12 Oct 2007 07:42:06 +0000 http://secondavenuesagas.com/2007/10/11/welcome-to-the-21st-century-nyc-buses/#comment-1555 I've been watching this closely since 1999, when the TA first announced that they planned to test the GPS tracking on buses. I was very suprised to learn how difficult is to track them with a great amount of tall buildings all around! I now live in a Spanish small town where they implemented this technology for years, and is very reliable. Also you can send a text message from where is no electronic display, and you would have another one in a few moments informing you of the next approaching buses. That idea would be great in NY! I posted the information on New York, <a href="http://metrodenuevayork.blogspot.com/2007/10/el-mta-usar-el-gps-en-los-autobuses.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>, (in Spanish), with references to the NY Times, back to 1999 and 2000. I’ve been watching this closely since 1999, when the TA first announced that they planned to test the GPS tracking on buses. I was very suprised to learn how difficult is to track them with a great amount of tall buildings all around!

I now live in a Spanish small town where they implemented this technology for years, and is very reliable. Also you can send a text message from where is no electronic display, and you would have another one in a few moments informing you of the next approaching buses. That idea would be great in NY!

I posted the information on New York, here, (in Spanish), with references to the NY Times, back to 1999 and 2000.

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