Interesting read of a new Hybrid powered bus for NYC public transport fleet.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1902185,00.asp

How do they compare to Natural Gas bus's we use here?

The CNG buses Brisbane Transport use are pretty good.

Yeah, we just got a new fleet of CNG's. We still have our euro2 diesels which run ok, but very loud. our best here are the 3 Hydrogen ones which kick ass!!

Any provisions for Hybrid/Hydrogen busses is Australia?

The CNG buses Brisbane Transport use are pretty good.

As long as you exclude the scania's. They're absolutely powerless pieces of shit.

those NYC buses are the ugliest modern buses ive ever seen. they look like they converted a model from 1979 into a hybrid bus. To me, NYC has no aesthetic appeal idea whatsoever and this is further backed up their ugly attempt to save the enviroment.

WHAT ABOUT VISUAL POLLUTION!!!!

those NYC buses are the ugliest modern buses ive ever seen. they look like they converted a model from 1979 into a hybrid bus. To me, NYC has no aesthetic appeal idea whatsoever and this is further backed up their ugly attempt to save the enviroment.

WHAT ABOUT VISUAL POLLUTION!!!!

Just about all buses manufactured in America are still trapped in a 70's time warp.

This is a 2005 model NABI Model 40-LFW Low Floor:

http://www.transitalk.info/photos/tlogan/405/GCRTA_NABI_2504.jpg

Its operated by the 'Greater Cleveland Regional Transportation Authority'

They're probably saving a few dollars by not redesigning their vehicles. Although it wouldn't do much for the image of PT in any cities with these buses.

Even the refitted buses that Grendas run out here don't look that bad.

....then again the automotive design tastes of Americans is rather unique.

Brands like Chrysler have had a hard time getting into the Australian market because we have more of a preference to European designs.

Just about all buses manufactured in America are still trapped in a 70's time warp.

Using here (Australia) as point of comparison, that's not really a 70s style bus but it is pretty dated - probably mid/late 1980s...

The styling of those buses is so svelte you could confuse them with your local council toilet block...

http://www.transitalk.info/photos/tlogan/405/GCRTA_NABI_2504.jpg

VS

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/1937/ramsgateloo0fg.jpg

OMG ABS, you're right!! They're both so svelte.

Yes in America big and chunky is the go whereas here a sleeker design always wins out!

I guess these busses aren't really doing much at the present moment!

They could have designed the buses better. Geez...

http://www.btoti.com/test/fleet.php?chassis=101

Now these are nice buses! :D

Using here (Australia) as point of comparison, that's not really a 70s style bus but it is pretty dated - probably mid/late 1980s...

I was using American design as a point of comparison. I was saying their designs haven't come much further since the 1970's.

The worse type of bus in the US has to be those yellow school buses.
http://www.ih.k12.oh.us/TRANSPORTATION/roadpi1.jpg

^^The school buses are good though, at least at providing comprehensive service. Plus they're a part of "Americana" culture along with white picket fences and apple pie.

Well, almost every major city in the US (even some Canadian ones) seems to get its buses from New Flyer (http://www.newflyer.com).

^^I see what you mean. When I first saw these buses in the US, they did come across very "Americana" which was a good thing.

Too bad there is no one to drive them :o

Walking down near Westminster yesterday and I saw a hydrogen bus, crazy only steam coming out the back!

FCDB

These Brisbane City Council buses are pretty good, even though the seats have about 1cm of cusion on them(there meant to be vandal-proof) and the suspension is rock hard making ever bump painful, there still a comfy ride. Air-conditioned real well, nice big open windows, plenty of space in the aisles, area inside the bus is nice and open inside as well, roof is something like 2.9m high, good for someone like me who usually has to duck on the other shitty buses imported from asia.

Another classy feature is the hydraulics that lower the side of the bus to gutter level so theres no step getting on and off the bus

http://www.btoti.com/test/pics/1200.jpg

I reckon in a few years time, we'll all have forgotten what those vinyl seats on buses felt like. They didn't look that good but they were quite comfy compared to what we have now.

Walking down near Westminster yesterday and I saw a hydrogen bus, crazy only steam coming out the back!

FCDB

That’s awesome! I thought this technology is still a few years away but that’s great news! Can't wait til all cars are powered this way! How clean will our cities be and how much will oil companies deservingly suffer?

That’s awesome! I thought this technology is still a few years away but that’s great news! Can't wait til all cars are powered this way! How clean will our cities be and how much will oil companies deservingly suffer?

To produce hydrogen you need MASSIVE amounts of electricity. So instead of reducing green house emission through burning of non-renewable fuels your switching to another source which will increase the need for burning coal to produce electricity.

eh, curvy euro-type busses wouldn't work in nyc. here, it's all about ridgid simplicity (same with the subway). I honestly don't like the euro busses, but it's all a matter of opinion. I've lived in nyc my whole life and have naturally grown to like the orions rolling around.

I don't see what's so horrible about this anyway:
http://www.hopetunnel.org/bus/040418/5703.jpg

These Brisbane City Council buses are pretty good, even though the seats have about 1cm of cusion on them(there meant to be vandal-proof) and the suspension is rock hard making ever bump painful, there still a comfy ride. Air-conditioned real well, nice big open windows, plenty of space in the aisles, area inside the bus is nice and open inside as well, roof is something like 2.9m high, good for someone like me who usually has to duck on the other shitty buses imported from asia.

Another classy feature is the hydraulics that lower the side of the bus to gutter level so theres no step getting on and off the bus

http://www.btoti.com/test/pics/1200.jpg

weve had those in perth for ages.. pfft

weve had those in perth for ages.. pfft
and Brisbanes had them for a few years as well, whats your point?

stop blowin hot air

weve had those in perth for ages.. pfft

Sorry to be a wet blanket, but there is no record of any MAN 18.310's being operated by TransPerth.

To produce hydrogen you need MASSIVE amounts of electricity. So instead of reducing green house emission through burning of non-renewable fuels your switching to another source which will increase the need for burning coal to produce electricity.

But the argument is that it is possible to produce electricity using something other than coal. It's the same as running trolley buses, emissions are produced elsewhere, but at least there are viable alternatives to coal.

It might not be a matter of producing energy in the future, but how we're going to actually make it available. Hydrogen fuel cells work under the same principles as any typical rechargable battery. It isn't 100% efficient, but neither is combusting petrol.

Sorry to be a wet blanket, but there is no record of any MAN 18.310's being operated by TransPerth.

Yeah we use Mercs which are better.... next..

Yeah we use Mercs which are better.... next..


couple of questions, buddy:

1)Would you care to divulge why they're better?
I'd love to hear your reasons, especially in light of the fact you haven't had a ride on an 18.310.

2) I also would like to know why you said 'Perth has had these for years' when you clearly knew you didn't?

3) are you 5 years old?

Canberra had the hydraulic floor lowering thing on ACTION Busses since at least 1998! It's cool and pretty funny if you're standing up the front. When they brought them in the whole idea was to help people using wheelchairs or old folks with hips replacements etc.

I believe 96/97 was when they were first introduced into Australia.

nikko dont be a cock, we have had hydrogen powered buses here for a while, even i know that, we have the normal ones and we also have the other ones which are white and blue, if i wasnt watching a movie id get pics up now.

nikko dont be a cock, we have had hydrogen powered buses here for a while, even i know that, we have the normal ones and we also have the other ones which are white and blue, if i wasnt watching a movie id get pics up now.

your just jelous you dont have them :P


psst...we're not talking about hydrogen-powered buses ;).

I'm just trying to help perthguy78 figure out what he meant by his statement. I'm guessing he dosen't know shit about bus engines so let me have my fun.

oh hydrolics on buses?

we've had those for ages to.

Both the Mercedes O500LE diesel chassis and MAN 18.310 CNG chassis use the same Volgren CR228L bodyshell. However, the MAN 18.310 has a much more refined ride and since it's powered by CNG it's cleaner than diesel.

This seems cool.

These days you can see at least one hybrid bus/car around major citys. So at least the tech is available I guess.

But as it stands now, the cost of this setup is still a abit too steep with it being aimed more towards the big businesses.

I reckon if we really needed these cars, then they would be everywhere. But atm theres always someone down the line who is post-ponding the transformation because of money that would be lost.

Theres still alot of profit to be made in oil. But even if we only have under 40 years of it left, then theres no doubt that oil companys will milk and play you to you last penny.

oh hydrolics on buses?

we've had those for ages to.

Nikko and perthguy78 aren't talking about that either.
So keep trying...I'm sure you'll eventually guess right.

I believe 96/97 was when they were first introduced into Australia.

Sounds about right. NSW STA has a demonstrator low floor Scania L113CRL from 1994 which can kneal but the production run of them - about 150 of them - didn't commence until 1996.

Both the Mercedes O500LE diesel chassis and MAN 18.310 CNG chassis use the same Volgren CR228L bodyshell. However, the MAN 18.310 has a much more refined ride and since it's powered by CNG it's cleaner than diesel.

We have CNG powered mercs in Perth.. all new buses here are powered by CNG... as are our new CAT inner city buses

We have CNG powered mercs in Perth.. all new buses here are powered by CNG... as are our new CAT inner city buses

The Mercs in Brisbane are diesel only becuase the Toowong bus depot does not have a gas refuelling system yet. When Toowong finally gets gas in February 2006 the MAN 18.310s will be reallocated to Toowong.

not the point - u said the MANs were better and quieter because they were CNG powered.. I just pointed out that in Perth we have CNG powered buses aswell..

not the point - u said the MANs were better and quieter because they were CNG powered.. I just pointed out that in Perth we have CNG powered buses aswell..

No, he wasn't saying the MAN's were better and quieter because of CNG. He was saying they were better and quieter than the Scanias (also CNG) because the MAN's have a more powerful engine and a more solid design.


damn people are stupid.

http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2005/07/08/PH2005070802040.jpg

Washington, D.C.'s new Circulator (http://www.dccirculator.com/about_the_circulator/Media_Room/) is slick.

No, he wasn't saying the MAN's were better and quieter because of CNG. He was saying they were better and quieter than the Scanias (also CNG) because the MAN's have a more powerful engine and a more solid design.


damn people are stupid.

Exactly. The MAN 18.310 and Scania L94UB are both CNG, but the MAN is a much better bus than the Scania.

circulator is basically the same as Perth's CAT (Inner city high freq bus)- except ours is free :)

im not sure what all the fuss is about.... that Brisbane bus doesn't look particularly better than the New York one(which looks decent enough).

i thought they were keeping the diesel buses cause the streets in in the area servi ced by the toowoong depot were to steep and the area was to hilly for the gas buses to perform effectively. Or maybe that was an argument for keeping them or why it took so long to get converted, not sure now

I Love Those Hybrid Powered buses though.

The gas powered MAN 18.310 buses allocated to Toowong have a larger engine (250kW versus 187kW) than the gas powered Scanias allocated to Garden City and Virgina depots.