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Next Generation CNG Test & Evaluation


East New York

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In 2015, the (MTA) will move to replace the first of it's Orion VII CNG buses.

 

The next full-on BTE program will be the CNG procurement, which is now officially on the horizon. MTA has decided to accelerate delivery of new CNG buses with an order for 138 new buses in 2015. 

 

This will retire buses 7560-7684, and increase the CNG fleet by 14 buses for spare factor and service increase.

 

This will be the first time MTA has replaced buses at the 12 year mark citing reliability in almost 2 decades.

 

To date, the Orion VII series buses (OG, and NG) have costed the agency tens of millions more than expected at contract award. 

 

As of today, the only qualified manufacturers to build buses for the MTA are New Flyer and Nova. This means we will be seeing CNG demo buses from both manufactures late this year, and or early next year.

 

(MTA) continues to request participation from other manufactures to enter BTE. DesignLine and MTS are still officially updated by Department of Buses on all new projects. NABI is now a division of New Flyer which is being phased out.

 

 

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In 2015, the (MTA) will move to replace the first of it's Orion VII CNG buses.

 

The next full-on BTE program will be the CNG procurement, which is now officially on the horizon. MTA has decided to accelerate delivery of new CNG buses with an order for 138 new buses in 2015. 

 

This will retire buses 7560-7684, and increase the CNG fleet by 14 buses for spare factor and service increase.

 

This will be the first time MTA has replaced buses at the 12 year mark citing reliability in almost 2 decades.

 

To date, the Orion VII series buses (OG, and NG) have costed the agency tens of millions more than expected at contract award. 

 

As of today, the only qualified manufacturers to build buses for the MTA are New Flyer and Nova. This means we will be seeing CNG demo buses from both manufactures late this year, and or early next year.

 

(MTA) continues to request participation from other manufactures to enter BTE. DesignLine and MTS are still officially updated by Department of Buses on all new projects. NABI is now a division of New Flyer which is being phased out.

Might want to change that to EPV Corporation/Environmental Performance Vehicles Corporation.

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New bus for West Farms Depot... West Farms Depot is a CNG Depot... I hope this CNG new order bus will all go to West Farms Depot only.. West Farms Depot do have #7617 - #7819... ( so West Farms Depot Orion7CNG #7617 - #7684 will retire) .. I hope New Flyer Industries will win this contract for West Farms Depot to get this new order of CNG

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Damn those O7 CNGs are going down already? They seem to be in good shape. Would be nice to see some XN40s in NYC, I like how the CnG tank is designed on it.

They're the worst in MDBF. Fleet-wide, they go 3,700 miles without breakdowns. That's a very low and bad number.

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The set already getting down.. West Farms Depot should get new order from New Flyer industries the next new order of 140 C40LF.CNG.. The set that already Out Of Service is 2003 Orion7CNG #7672.. West Farms Depot should get New Flyer Industries bus the next new order.. The set at West Farms Depot that 2003 Orion7CNG #7729? Have been out of service for while.. I maybe wrong.

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Yes (MTA) did had additional option of C40LF 2013 model but was cancelled.. increased order of C40LF New Flyer #673 - #702  ( 30 bus ) that it would be #185 - #702.( order of 518 buses ).. But the order of 30 bus #673 - #702 of C40LF New Flyer was cancelled.. So they just order up to #185 - #672 ( 488 buses ).. I hope New Flyer industries do get the order to built 140 CNG new bus.. just finish the order they supposed to be built of 30 new C40LF CNG bus that New Flyer industries supposed to be built. Purchase 30 additional C40LF CNG #673 - #702 that I know

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No, it shouldn't take long at all. Both platforms are qualified, therefore MTA only needs to evaluate the configurations.

 

However, because there are no CNG's in the fleet offered by either company, and the project is requesting funds from the government, there will only be one winner, and it will definitely be the lowest bidder.

 

This also means there will not be a full on competition because pricing will be the main factor.

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And they'll still have 19 year old RTS's running around?

Last year a superintendent told me we still run those because it's the only bus in our fleet to clear some of the central park "tunnels" but not sure about that myself if rts can clear it so can the Orion 5

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Last year a superintendent told me we still run those because it's the only bus in our fleet to clear some of the central park "tunnels" but not sure about that myself if rts can clear it so can the Orion 5

We still run 19 year old RTS's because they still run. Yes, an orion v can probably fit through the low underpasses in central park, but there are a lot more RTS's left than orion v's. And a lot of the orion v's are suffering from advanced frame rot from hurricane sandy. They want to get rid of them as fast as possible
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  • 2 months later...

As MTA aggressively makes plans to replace the oldest of the Orion VII CNG buses, Nova has successfully signed a deal for there first CNG buses in North America. See Current Events & News.

 

At this time, the MTA will request federal funds for the project, which calls for an award of 138 buses to the low bidder. 124 buses will replace the current fleet, and there will be a growth increase of 15 buses.

 

MTA wants these buses ordered around spring/summer 2015, with a pilot, or pilots arriving by years end. The balance of the buses are to be delivered in 2016. 

 

Both New Flyer and NovaBus have platforms that are already accepted by the Department of Buses. A full BTE assessment is not needed,  however MTA will monitor the procurement very close as the replacement for the remainder of the O7 fleet is expected in or around 2016 after the MTA has successfully evaluated the buses.

 

It is now being said that this order could include an option for an additional 135-150 buses.

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  • 4 weeks later...
  • 1 year later...

Next Gen CNG Test & Evaluation is about to get started! At this time, this will include New Flyer buses only. As you all review the fisrt few posts of this thread, note that not much has actually changed. Instead of placing an order for 40 footers with active options, MTA elected to instead go for artics to replace nearly half the current buses.

 

The CNG BTE, which at this point only includes New Flyer calls for 9-10 pilot buses for validation. 

 

Because this is a new CNG platform, MTA has specified 5 pilot buses for both extensive testing as well as an accelerated delivery as we have seen with all the Xcelsiors to date. A full on BTE evaluation is not required, as the Xcesior platform is already qualified. 

 

At this time I have not recieved the final word, however I am being told 2 pilots will be assigned to JG, and 2 will be assigned to WF, and the last will complete qualification testing at Zerega.

 

The final detailes are now being worked out for the articulated order.

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I hope the MTA don't delay this for a Nova CNG demo cause them Lfs ain't ready to be tested down here...

 

 

They aren't going to do that. New Flyer has already been awarded the 40 foot contract, and they will get the 60 foot order as well. MTA does not want an LFS CNG until the platform has been proven, therefore the LFSA CNG is out of the question at this time. 

 

As of right now, Nova will not be considered for CNG's until at least 2023. MTA plans on keeping the C40LF's up to 15 years max. (2026)

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