Nova Bus is readying an order of 90 low-floor systems vehicles for a New York City Transit test run, the company announced yesterday. As part of a plan to develop the next generation of rolling stock for New York City’s bus system, Transit has requested three different kinds of 40-foot buses, and Nova Bus will fulfill this $40-million order at its Plattsburgh, NY-based plant. “The Nova Bus team is keenly focused on sustainable business development,” Gilles Dion, the company’s president and CEO said, “and we are pleased to have the opportunity to pursue our partnership with one of the leading transit authorities in North America.”
According to a company spokesperson, the buses will arrive in New York within the next few weeks, and the initial tests could lead to more orders if the trials are successful. “Not only does it benefit New Yorkers downstate who get to ride these Nova buses, but more importantly, this creates good-paying jobs right here in Plattsburgh,” Senator Chuck Schumer said. “The MTA is now a repeat customer with Nova, and this new contract reaffirms that Nova is a first-class facility doing great work in Plattsburgh.” Nova Bus is currently working on an order of 60-foot articulated buses for the MTA as well.
4 comments
Can MTA look at rapid charge battery/ultracapacitor systems to go with diesel hybrid powertrains? They can get 2-5 mile ranges. The route ends and a few stops could be retrofitted with overhead power source or some sort of electrical docking module for a fast charge. The diesel generator could fire up in case of power failure, but the bus would run primarily on relatively cheap electricity.
I doubt it’s more cost-effective than electrifying the major streets and ordering trolleybuses.
Initial capital costs would be higher, but:
1) We already have hybrid buses with Li-ion batteries. This would be adding capacitors and some sort of multi contact electrical system. Capacitors would also help improve energy efficiency due to high power input (charge and regen braking) and output capacities.
2) Less Infrastructure: You only need to electrify route ends, bus depots and a few high dwell stops. Theres no need to electrify miles of roadway.
3) It would be far more flexible, as it could run far for miles between electrical contacts. A genset aboard would allow the vehicle to run during a blackout, as well as make long distance moves and detours.
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