US: Daimler announces order for 1,052 Orion hybrid buses
Monday, December 17, 2007, AutomotiveWorld.com
Daimler Buses North America says it has received orders for 1,052 Orion VII diesel-electric hybrid transit buses from several of North America's largest transit authorities.
MTA New York City Transit has ordered 850 units, with a further 202 to be delivered to OC Transpo in the City of Ottawa. All will be powered by BAE Systems' HybriDrive diesel-electric series hybrid propulsion system and delivered by 2010.
Daimler states that some 1,100 Orion diesel-electric hybrid transit buses have been delivered since the vehicle's introduction in 2003, with 460 pending in addition to this latest order, bringing the total to 2,612 units over the model's lifecycle so far.
MTA's fleet will reach almost 1,700 vehicles when the last of the latest order is delivered, making it the largest diesel-electric hybrid fleet in the world, with Orion transit buses accounting for almost 50% of MTA New York City Transit's entire fleet.
OC Transpo's order meanwhile, is due for completion by 2009. This latest delivery will give the authority the third largest hybrid bus fleet in Canada.
BAE Systems' HybriDrive propulsion powertrain is driven by a single electric motor which is itself powered by a diesel-driven generator and an energy storage unit. The OEM notes that a majority of the deliveries previously mentioned will incorporate lithium-ion batteries. The so-called 'clean-diesel' engine is smaller than that used in conventional buses and runs at an almost nearly constant speed for improved efficiency with fewer emissions, it is claimed.
Daimler Buses North America, headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, combines three commercial bus brands under one corporate structure: Orion transit buses, Setra motorcoaches, and the Dodge Sprinter shuttle bus.
Published on Monday, December 17, 2007
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