Saw on the news tonight that Metro is experimenting with Hybrid buses. Sounds like a good idea. The pricetag of $500,000 for each bus seems a little steep though.
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DrDrew wrote:Saw on the news tonight that Metro is experimenting with Hybrid buses. Sounds like a good idea. The pricetag of $500,000 for each bus seems a little steep though.
I have seen these on the Grand route a couple of times... once today actually. They don't have the Metro paint job, but are red and white with the words "Orion VII Hybrid" written down the side. We currently many CNG buses running routes, but according to a Post-Dispatch article from last September, Metro hasn't been pleased with the results and the hybrid solution is more appealing. Evidently, we are supposed to get a new fleet of these busses in 2009.
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<A HREF="http://www.hybrid-vehicles.net/orion-vi ... htm">Orion VII Hybrid Bus</A>
Orion VII Hybrid Buses are rolling out across the U. S and Canada. Orion, a subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler has rolled out its diesel-electric hybrid buses New York, and further roll outs to cities like St. Louis, San Francisco and Toronto are in the works.
<A HREF="http://www.hybrid-vehicles.net/orion-vii-hybrid-bus.htm">>>> read more</A>
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Metro buses typically cost around $325,000. The cost may seem high for the hybrids, but the fuel savings should be considerable and the federal government is probably paying for around 80% of the new buses.
I hope they can replace their entire fleet with these cleaner buses.
I hope they can replace their entire fleet with these cleaner buses.
Is there any news on the status of these buses (i.e. cancellation, expansion of the program)?
These buses were here only for temporary test authorized by Orion to encourage Metro to buy their buses. Metro is unlikely purchase new buses until 2008.
While this fact may have been forgotten, but Metro is directing nearly all of the local matching funds necessary to access our federal funds to keep our current operation going. As a result, there is no money to buy buses in any significant quantiity until the region figures out a way to fund a credible transit system.
Approximately $17 million annually in formula federal funds out of roughly $23 million available to Metro for capital expenses are being used for maintenance which is the one operating expense allowable for Federal funding. The use of this "capital" money for maintenance has been increasing year by year for a number of years. This action has prevented (or slowed) Metro from being able to invest in all sorts of important capital projects including radios, fareboxes, CAD/AVL, bus replacement, electronic rail headsigns and automatic enunciation equipment and other rail capital projects including some very critical ones like bridge repairs.
Anyway the hybrids we tested were interesting and worth considering but they did not have improved fuel mileage when compared to Metro's existing fleet. The hybrid fuel saving advantage may be seen if compared to the fuel mileage we will achieve when we are using the new low sulfur fuel required by EPA.
Anyway, the new Orions cost roughly $500,000 per bus. That's a steep premium. Its only financially an intelliigent decision if we can get a longer vehicle life (perhaps 17 years versus 12 years) and improved fuel mileage.
Perhaps by 2008, the market choices and fuel savings advantages for hybrid, low floor buses will be more evident. And hopefully we will have a local source of funds to sustain the operation. Otherwise, we will be running buses that are 20 years old using cell phones for communication and drop boxes for fare collection. We will only need one bus garage in Missouri. Who has a main shop for a 200 peak bus system? No one.
While this fact may have been forgotten, but Metro is directing nearly all of the local matching funds necessary to access our federal funds to keep our current operation going. As a result, there is no money to buy buses in any significant quantiity until the region figures out a way to fund a credible transit system.
Approximately $17 million annually in formula federal funds out of roughly $23 million available to Metro for capital expenses are being used for maintenance which is the one operating expense allowable for Federal funding. The use of this "capital" money for maintenance has been increasing year by year for a number of years. This action has prevented (or slowed) Metro from being able to invest in all sorts of important capital projects including radios, fareboxes, CAD/AVL, bus replacement, electronic rail headsigns and automatic enunciation equipment and other rail capital projects including some very critical ones like bridge repairs.
Anyway the hybrids we tested were interesting and worth considering but they did not have improved fuel mileage when compared to Metro's existing fleet. The hybrid fuel saving advantage may be seen if compared to the fuel mileage we will achieve when we are using the new low sulfur fuel required by EPA.
Anyway, the new Orions cost roughly $500,000 per bus. That's a steep premium. Its only financially an intelliigent decision if we can get a longer vehicle life (perhaps 17 years versus 12 years) and improved fuel mileage.
Perhaps by 2008, the market choices and fuel savings advantages for hybrid, low floor buses will be more evident. And hopefully we will have a local source of funds to sustain the operation. Otherwise, we will be running buses that are 20 years old using cell phones for communication and drop boxes for fare collection. We will only need one bus garage in Missouri. Who has a main shop for a 200 peak bus system? No one.
