Does anyone know if these Orion hybrid models did indeed deliver on fuel savings and other supposed benefits. Toronto bought the same model and didn't deliver on fuel savings and the battery died in 2 years.
hopefully they test the Orion VII NG and then if scessful then order because those 1993 Gillig phantom (ex:AC Transit) will need good replacement even the Neoplans and NABI when there 12 years old.
Are you assuming that they found the Orion VIIs to be "more suitable" than the Neoplans just because they ended up purchasing them? Because Neoplan shut down in 2006, so they couldn't get them even if they wanted.
No, I'm referring that based on the test results the Orion hybrids are likely the better choice. I'm not saying that the Neoplan CNG are a poor choice, the thing is that a CNG fueling setup will need to be put in at the garage. With the hybrid it fills up with the same diesel fuel already available. The comparison is based on engines rather than bus manufacturers.
They always ordered new buses. Muni always had bought high floor buses, these buses are the first time Muni has ordered low floor buses. Of course Muni had bought some older buses from other transit agencies such as Flyer 900s from Samtrans and Gillig Phantoms from AC Transit which were used as reserve buses.
I don't know, there are probably several factors in choosing which to buy. Since Muni only demoed the Orion hybrid and Neoplan CNG, I suppose they were deciding between the two. They are always talking about budget for everything so cost will be a big factor.
I guess MUNI is not ordering anymore High Floor buses huh, But Sam Trans and Golden Gate is probably is, I hoping Golden Gate will get Millenium Legend RTS buses in a future.
We have the same buses in New York City. Don't Hybrid Electric buses still require fuel to be powered, compared to Hydrogen Fuel Cell buses that don't?
Yes they have a small diesel engine that powers a generator which power the traction motor to the wheels. Its sort of like a trolley bus without wires. Hydrogen fuel cell you would need a hydrogen filling station and I think those would have a limited range in terms of how long before you need to refuel.
Thats good... The new orion VII buses wil get a good workout with the steep hills, LEAD foot brakeing, speeding, crush loaded people, questionable upkeep, and vandals! Buses that would last YEARS in grid lock traffic in NYC have a SLIM chance of looking great at MUNI. I have seen several buses with cracked windows, side swipes, and excessive graffiti ALLREADY!
The engine is powerful compared to regular diesels. It sounds like an electric bus, the transmission is very smooth. Just before it starts moving, it feels like the bus rolls back a bit, sort of like a trolley bus.
The Orion hybrids use a serial hybrid electric drive system, which means that a gas engine runs a generator, which in turn powers the electric traction motor.
You mentioned that you had TWO Hybrid demos in San Francisco, huh? Well I know ONE of them for a fact was MTA New York City Transit's Orion 07.501 Low Floor Hybrid #6365...a 2002 model. That bus has gone to Philadelphia as well for a test. That bus does get around. Glad you like those buses because there is about 825 of them in New York City (541 with New York City Transit and 284 with MTA Bus).
Yes the 2 demo Orion hybrids were VI #9201 and 9202. I'm not sure if they were MTA buses since they were painted the Muni paint scheme and were 2001 models. Those had a rear window. I never had a chance to ride those demo buses. I'm sure there are some pics of those buses online.
The majority of the Muni buses have emergency exit handles windows. On these buses they are lift bar and push window. Overall I don't think the windows seem to fit in very well with the bus. You can tell from the outside it is a low floor bus because the windows in the back are smaller while larger in the front section. This video wasn't that good to show the whole interior of th bus. I'll try to get another video of these buses later on.
It can get hot in San Francisco , usually in September and October when the Santa Ana winds blow . Last year , the city reached a record 97 degrees in July , when it is normally foggy and a cool 65 degrees . The farther you go away from the city , the warmer it gets so air conditioning is needed , especially when it is 97 degrees outside and you're on a crowded bus !
i hate how you have to opening the door!
iluvSpectacular011 1 year ago
i hate how you have to opening the door!
iluvSpectacular011 1 year ago
Does anyone know if these Orion hybrid models did indeed deliver on fuel savings and other supposed benefits. Toronto bought the same model and didn't deliver on fuel savings and the battery died in 2 years.
jackiechan511 1 year ago
Are they testing a Orion VII NG soon?
also what engine did the 2 neoplan CNG had?
s88Limitedbus 2 years ago
I don't think they will be testing any new buses anytime soon. I am not sure what engine did the Neoplan AN440LF CNG have. Its most likely a Cummins.
lpcmidst128 2 years ago
hopefully they test the Orion VII NG and then if scessful then order because those 1993 Gillig phantom (ex:AC Transit) will need good replacement even the Neoplans and NABI when there 12 years old.
s88Limitedbus 2 years ago
These buses are like rockets (or at least sound like them) when SPEEDING down Market St.
FatBoyCouchPotato 2 years ago
thats a nice looking bus
5/5
igotgsus2 2 years ago
I like the sound of these better than Torontos. Cummings are kinda boring sound on certain buses.
qwandiddy 2 years ago
I thought they have the hybrids too. A lot of buses have the Cummins or Detroit Diesel engines so its familiar sounding.
lpcmidst128 2 years ago
Are you assuming that they found the Orion VIIs to be "more suitable" than the Neoplans just because they ended up purchasing them? Because Neoplan shut down in 2006, so they couldn't get them even if they wanted.
tecsbrain 3 years ago
No, I'm referring that based on the test results the Orion hybrids are likely the better choice. I'm not saying that the Neoplan CNG are a poor choice, the thing is that a CNG fueling setup will need to be put in at the garage. With the hybrid it fills up with the same diesel fuel already available. The comparison is based on engines rather than bus manufacturers.
lpcmidst128 2 years ago
They also look at several factors such as fuel economy, cost to operate and performance.
lpcmidst128 2 years ago
I posted up the link to the summary of the study, link in the video description.
lpcmidst128 2 years ago
how come its the first time Muni orders a new bus?
alexdarkness666 3 years ago 2
They always ordered new buses. Muni always had bought high floor buses, these buses are the first time Muni has ordered low floor buses. Of course Muni had bought some older buses from other transit agencies such as Flyer 900s from Samtrans and Gillig Phantoms from AC Transit which were used as reserve buses.
lpcmidst128 3 years ago
why did muni buy only orion buses they should had bought the NABI 60 BRT bus or the New Flyer C40LFR
alexdarkness666 2 years ago
I don't know, there are probably several factors in choosing which to buy. Since Muni only demoed the Orion hybrid and Neoplan CNG, I suppose they were deciding between the two. They are always talking about budget for everything so cost will be a big factor.
lpcmidst128 2 years ago
That looks like TTC's 7400-7499, 7500-7619, 7620-7881 (EGRs); 7900-7979, 8000-8099 (ISLs); and 1000-1149 (HEVs).
freshcorp19 3 years ago
FYI, MUNI's 84xx are 40 foots and the 85xx are 30 foots.
ttcgeek 3 years ago
SOunds better than NABI, New Flyers
qwandiddy 3 years ago 3
Cool, I take the 29 line too, and its usually filled up with college kids!
ipwne 3 years ago 2
i HATE these things. doesnt even seem like muni anymore
broach221 3 years ago
Ha ha I feel you, I miss the Flyer D901s and D800s
qwandiddy 3 years ago
I know, MUNI is not low floor like these buses.
D40LFR 3 years ago
I guess MUNI is not ordering anymore High Floor buses huh, But Sam Trans and Golden Gate is probably is, I hoping Golden Gate will get Millenium Legend RTS buses in a future.
qwandiddy 3 years ago
you mean it doesn't suck as much now?
dontwalkhand 2 years ago
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i love to tag on thesebusses lmao!
FogtownCCK 3 years ago
thats why thers no need to be rocking back and forth and no odd feeling of gear changes
fedders4 3 years ago
We have the same buses in New York City. Don't Hybrid Electric buses still require fuel to be powered, compared to Hydrogen Fuel Cell buses that don't?
EsotericDesi 3 years ago
Yes they have a small diesel engine that powers a generator which power the traction motor to the wheels. Its sort of like a trolley bus without wires. Hydrogen fuel cell you would need a hydrogen filling station and I think those would have a limited range in terms of how long before you need to refuel.
lpcmidst128 3 years ago
their realy ECO frindly and have more powerful air conditioning systems becase the A/C gets all it's food from the battry pack on top of the bus
fedders4 3 years ago
More powerful than a NABI.
qwandiddy 3 years ago
whats NABI?
fedders4 3 years ago
North American Bus Industries.
qwandiddy 3 years ago
Thats good... The new orion VII buses wil get a good workout with the steep hills, LEAD foot brakeing, speeding, crush loaded people, questionable upkeep, and vandals! Buses that would last YEARS in grid lock traffic in NYC have a SLIM chance of looking great at MUNI. I have seen several buses with cracked windows, side swipes, and excessive graffiti ALLREADY!
rdj0690 4 years ago 5
Yeah. Muni attracts a lot of vandals. But what do you expect, it's SF, the world's WORST city.
ugetasskicked 3 years ago 3
Agree. There is a pack of especially annoying kids who think they're hard who ride the 18 and they messed up this bus, it's not nice anymore.
raieven 2 years ago 2
Simple, bring back corporal punishment, and go Singapore style on vandals.
dontwalkhand 2 years ago
I wish that could happen.
ugetasskicked 2 years ago
Nice! I love that "powering-up" noise at the beginning :D
dyip90 4 years ago 7
The engine is powerful compared to regular diesels. It sounds like an electric bus, the transmission is very smooth. Just before it starts moving, it feels like the bus rolls back a bit, sort of like a trolley bus.
lpcmidst128 4 years ago
No transmission on HEVs. BAE HybriDrive electric motor
bigken6005 4 years ago 3
umm ther is no transmisson in theses hybrids!
fedders4 3 years ago
Yes, it sounds a lot like a BART rail train accelerating. Same quiet electric motor whirr. Definitely not an internal-combustion type roar.
ElDuco104 4 years ago 2
The Orion hybrids use a serial hybrid electric drive system, which means that a gas engine runs a generator, which in turn powers the electric traction motor.
michaelper22 4 years ago 3
Mee too, Especially the Orions, the ones in different cities like Toronto sounds boring like New Flyers!
qwandiddy 4 years ago
thats the s50EGR buses (7400-7881)
fedders4 3 years ago
the ones in toronto are cummins!!
fedders4 3 years ago
You mentioned that you had TWO Hybrid demos in San Francisco, huh? Well I know ONE of them for a fact was MTA New York City Transit's Orion 07.501 Low Floor Hybrid #6365...a 2002 model. That bus has gone to Philadelphia as well for a test. That bus does get around. Glad you like those buses because there is about 825 of them in New York City (541 with New York City Transit and 284 with MTA Bus).
TheTransitMan123 4 years ago 3
Yes the 2 demo Orion hybrids were VI #9201 and 9202. I'm not sure if they were MTA buses since they were painted the Muni paint scheme and were 2001 models. Those had a rear window. I never had a chance to ride those demo buses. I'm sure there are some pics of those buses online.
lpcmidst128 4 years ago
They were Orion 06.501 so it probably ain't what your thinking of.
Breeze646 4 years ago 2
Sacramento Regional Transit also has Orion Bus Industries Series VII buses as well (alongside their existing Orion V buses) in their fleet.
Sulaco516 4 years ago
Add-on to comment:
Except that the Sacramento RT Orion Series V high floor and Series VII low floor buses are powered by compressed natural gas (CNG).
Sulaco516 4 years ago 2
Very interesting window configuration.
SuperSonic3783 4 years ago
The majority of the Muni buses have emergency exit handles windows. On these buses they are lift bar and push window. Overall I don't think the windows seem to fit in very well with the bus. You can tell from the outside it is a low floor bus because the windows in the back are smaller while larger in the front section. This video wasn't that good to show the whole interior of th bus. I'll try to get another video of these buses later on.
lpcmidst128 4 years ago
This is the standard Orion VII window configuration.
tecsbrain 3 years ago
If I'm not mistaken, this is the very first to purchased with a/c. I don't know why they got it as SF is always a mild weather.
general682002 4 years ago 3
Yes as far as I know one of the first buses with a/c. I agree its not necessary here in the city. Also the Breda LRV (light rail vehicle) have a/c.
lpcmidst128 4 years ago
It can get hot in San Francisco , usually in September and October when the Santa Ana winds blow . Last year , the city reached a record 97 degrees in July , when it is normally foggy and a cool 65 degrees . The farther you go away from the city , the warmer it gets so air conditioning is needed , especially when it is 97 degrees outside and you're on a crowded bus !
Medic83301 3 years ago 3