NewFlyerMCI Posted May 14, 2015 Report Share Posted May 14, 2015 http://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2015/05/13/new-dc-circulator-buses-will-have-usb-ports-and-better-air-conditioning/They seem to be coming.... Everywhere.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted May 14, 2015 Report Share Posted May 14, 2015 (edited) http://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2015/05/13/new-dc-circulator-buses-will-have-usb-ports-and-better-air-conditioning/They seem to be coming.... Everywhere....If you read the article, they are hybrids, not electric buses (electric being defined as battery only)--other than what it says about "in the long run" instead of now. Edited May 14, 2015 by Busjack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MetroShadow Posted May 17, 2015 Report Share Posted May 17, 2015 Case in point: http://dc.suntimes.com/dc-news/7/82/163279/charge-phone-new-dc-circulator-buses-never-late Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvliquidator Posted July 25, 2015 Report Share Posted July 25, 2015 nice red color bus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted January 11 Report Share Posted January 11 Evanston Roundrable article that the parent company of Positive Connections. which provides service to Evanston-Skokie District 65, received a federal grant for electric school buses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted March 17 Report Share Posted March 17 New Flyer release that NYCTA placed firm orders for 187 40-ft battery buses and 18 60-ft ones, with options for 943 40-ft ones and 272 60-ft ones. However it seems to have hedged its bets by ordering 224 diesel artics with options for another 446. Anyway, this is being reported as up to 1400 electric buses out of up to 2090. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artthouwill Posted March 17 Report Share Posted March 17 1 hour ago, Busjack said: New Flyer release that NYCTA placed firm orders for 187 40-ft battery buses and 18 60-ft ones, with options for 943 40-ft ones and 272 60-ft ones. However it seems to have hedged its bets by ordering 224 diesel artics with options for another 446. Anyway, this is being reported as up to 1400 electric buses out of up to 2090. Smart move to also order clean diesel artics. I've been saying that CTA should also be ordering clean diesel buses in addition to any electric buses they are ordering in the future. They can't keep the few electrics they currently have on the road. Therefore placing more orders for electric buses to retire the oldest buses without having some newer diesel buses is not snart . The 8350s should not be the last order of diesel buses. Hopefully CTA will learn from New York. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elkmn Posted March 17 Report Share Posted March 17 1 hour ago, artthouwill said: Therefore placing more orders for electric buses to retire the oldest buses without having some newer diesel buses is not snart . The 8350s should not be the last order of diesel buses I agree that they should get some more diesels or hybrids, but the Illinois senate says otherwise and we can't do much about that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strictures Posted March 17 Report Share Posted March 17 10 hours ago, artthouwill said: Hopefully CTA will learn from New York. CTA learn something? You should go into stand up comedy! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted March 17 Report Share Posted March 17 12 hours ago, Elkmn said: I agree that they should get some more diesels or hybrids, but the Illinois senate says otherwise and we can't do much about that. As been said many times before, that law is so full of holes that it makes Emmenthaler and Jarlsberg (Norwegian Swiss) cheese looks solid, as 70 ILCS 3615/2.10a provides: (c ) For the purposes of determining compliance with this Section, a Service Board shall not be deemed to be in violation of this Section when failure to comply is due to: (1) the unavailability of zero-emission buses from a manufacturer or funding to purchase zero-emission buses; (2) the lack of necessary charging, fueling, or storage facilities or funding to procure charging, fueling, or storage facilities; or (3) the inability of a third party to enter into a contractual or commercial relationship with a Service Board that is necessary to carry out the purposes of this Section. A possible explanation for NYCTA's action is that NF is the only remaining major BAA compliant assembler of articulated buses, and that's all it could do, and if that's the case, CTA may come within exception (c )(1). But it would appear that if that's the case, neither CTA nor NYCTA will make the 2040 deadline for zero emissions, unless they plan to scrap the buses to be acquired after 2027 prematurely. But unless hybrid technology has radically improved, hybrid buses don't save much fuel and aren't zero emission, so if the additional $200,000 per bus is still the case, would be a waste of money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tcmetro Posted March 17 Report Share Posted March 17 Los Angeles is planning to convert their CNG ElDorado Axess and NF XN60 to electric in the coming years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elkmn Posted March 17 Report Share Posted March 17 3 hours ago, Busjack said: neither CTA nor NYCTA will make the 2040 deadline for zero emissions, unless they plan to scrap the buses to be acquired after 2027 prematurely. this is a very far off pipe dream, but what if CTA brings back trolleybuses? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewFlyerMCI Posted March 17 Author Report Share Posted March 17 30 minutes ago, Elkmn said: this is a very far off pipe dream, but what if CTA brings back trolleybuses? Going electric to ETBs over BEBs was always the more logical move, especially with the street grid and how routes conform to it, and with the advances made to IMC over the years. However, I don't see the agency or pols expending the political capital to make the switch. Cambridge basically forced MBTA's hand to make the switch from ETBs to BEBs even though they should've just ordered new ETBs to replace the Neoplans. CTA would basically need to convert an entire garage and their routes at once, while other garages shoulder the load, which again, is probably possible, but could easily be deemed not worth the effort. Forest Glen would probably be a good start for this, especially with most of the routes being short and operating out of Jeff Pk. But all that said, I don't see CTA/Chicago, or anywhere, stringing up wires for anything other than LRVs. When the wires came down, so went the inertia to keep them them. Same way all the super expansive streetcar networks that still exist in the US had one thing in common (a downtown tunnel where all the lines got funneled into) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elkmn Posted March 17 Report Share Posted March 17 Is it possible to string up wires using current electrical wire support poles and streetlamps? If so, installing wire couldn't be that hard, and after that it's just setting up FG for trolleybuses, putting in some substations (substations? I'd think that's what ETBs have) and acquiring some ETBs, which also shouldn't be too hard as Vancouver TransLink is looking to replace their E40s. This is still a pipe dream though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted March 17 Report Share Posted March 17 1 hour ago, Elkmn said: Is it possible to string up wires using current electrical wire support poles and streetlamps? If so, installing wire couldn't be that hard, and after that it's just setting up FG for trolleybuses, putting in some substations (substations? I'd think that's what ETBs have) and acquiring some ETBs, which also shouldn't be too hard as Vancouver TransLink is looking to replace their E40s. This is still a pipe dream though. Main issue that @andrethebusman99 brought up was that CTA did not want to pay the expense of maintaining the wires when they broke, or of rewiring when routes or streets changed. For instance, it wasn't coincidence that the 51 51st/55th trolley bus was discontinued when Hyde Park got urban renewal and University Apartments were built in the middle of 55th. Also, it was 51/55 because trolleys were not allowed in the parks, which precluded running through Washington Park and on Garfield Blvd. Andre also mentioned that there were plans to route 81 and 85 into Jefferson Park, but, again not coincidentally, trolley bus on those routes ended when Jeff Park opened. Most of the north side lines ended short of Lincoln Park at such terminals as Belmont-Halsted, or at Broadway, and short-line buses such as 74L, East Belmont, and Lawrence-Montrose were used to get to the beach. Similarly, CSL (basically to fend off CMC) and CTA thought trolley buses were worth it around Central, but not worth it such as on Irving Park west of Neenah. Wires were considered eyesores, and CTA got sued when a truck going under a viaduct caught on fire. There are some trolley/battery buses, which might take care of the parks problem, but still need batteries. As @NewFlyerMCI pointed out, Cambridge forced out trolley buses and Toronto did too; streetcars and trolleybuses basically work only in transitways, and Toronto is the only North American city that has streetcars running on the grid. Even at that TTC has bustitution when streets are under construction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted April 20 Report Share Posted April 20 I attended a Zoom lecture on alternative energy (he included landfill methane and corn alcohol, as not fossil fuels, even though they are carbon-based), and at the end I commented that I was following bus electrification, including the activists saying "cancel the diesel contracts now, " the talk about the inadequacy of the grid, one TA being frozen in making a decision whether one garage should be CNG, BEB, or FC, and inability to keep one manufacturer's buses in service and warranty claims against that manufacturer. His response: "The technology hasn't caught up yet." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam92 Posted April 20 Report Share Posted April 20 2 hours ago, Busjack said: I attended a Zoom lecture on alternative energy (he included landfill methane and corn alcohol, as not fossil fuels, even though they are carbon-based), and at the end I commented that I was following bus electrification, including the activists saying "cancel the diesel contracts now, " the talk about the inadequacy of the grid, one TA being frozen in making a decision whether one garage should be CNG, BEB, or FC, and inability to keep one manufacturer's buses in service and warranty claims against that manufacturer. His response: "The technology hasn't caught up yet." So in other words the people yelling to "cancel diesel contracts" and mandate all electric by 2040 need to face reality 🥴 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted April 20 Report Share Posted April 20 4 minutes ago, Sam92 said: So in other words the people yelling to "cancel diesel contracts" and mandate all electric by 2040 need to face reality 🥴 I wasn't referring to those with the 2040 goal. I was referring to the environmental activists saying to cancel the Nova contract (maybe better put, not exercise the options) after getting the first 100. Somehow (after doing the search) I realized that I recalled this Sun-Times article. While CTA didn't go for that bait, Pace's actions have been inconsistent. While Pace acquired 20700 for the purpose "of testing it at various divisions and gaining experience with it," it didn't get the CNG buses it said it needed to inaugurate Dempster Pulse and for some replacements, the net effect being that River (Elgin garage) is left running 30-footers on routes such as 606. By saying "our CNG manufacturer is out of business," I infer that Pace doesn't intend to buy NF or Gillig CNGs. Thus, its entire strategy is based on the order for 22 Proterras for North, which seem to have survived bankruptcy reorganization. Maybe the plan is to ship some 6730s from N to W to retire 6323s, but that's counting on awfully a lot at this stage. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted July 4 Report Share Posted July 4 The discussion about the grant for the Pace electric motor coach raised in my mind the question whether BYD USA is still an option. Apparently not. 49 USC 5323(u), enacted as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, bars new acquisitions from companies related legally or financially to a corporation based in a country such as China. BYD recognizes that this law applies to it , and the law targeted BYD and CRRC (Washington Post), although existing customers may make new acquisitions from CRRC (but apparently won't). So, it's just MCI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted November 5 Report Share Posted November 5 5 hours ago, artthouwill said: Based on what they said, they're going to concentrate on building battery powered electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Apparently buying ENC means they have a platform to build these type buses. The question is how competitive can they actually be with Phoenix, New Flyer, and Gillig competing for the same business. Consider that Rev Group didn't see ENC as profitable and was actually shutting it down before selling it. Pace is looking for hydrogen fuel buses to replace the CNGs at South Division. Eventually Pace will have to put out a RFP. WE will see if Rivaz is a real player or not My opinion of Rivaz (despite what a poster believes, one web page does not make a company) results from my past couple of days of digging into Vicinity. A Bus Driver Life video showed a Vicinity Lightning 28' bus, which looked to me something that could be used in Niles. There were reports that Vicinity had a Buy America Act compliant factory in Washington, and state contracts (e.g. Mass Transit). However, looking up its stock ticker VEV shows that the company has been put in receivership and its stock has been delisted. So, I guess no cigar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Transit Posted November 5 Report Share Posted November 5 Bottom line for me is will Rivaz change their business model and continue only bidding on contracts for buses for private carriers who provide services for airports or colleges, or start bidding on small or medium market contracts that Gillig usually win Also, has anyone seen an automobile built by Rivaz? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted November 6 Report Share Posted November 6 4 hours ago, Mr.Transit said: Also, has anyone seen an automobile built by Rivaz? As I noted earlier, there's no indication they did anything other than incorporate before this. And nothing on their new webpage indicates anything else. So since you are positing that there is an automobile they produced in their 15 months of corporate existence, you provide the evidence. As I said in comparison to PhoenixEV, Rivaz hasn't posted anything. The way you are pushing Rivaz, you sound like the guy from East New York, who was "invested" in Millennium Transit, and was using this forum to solicit a commission on selling RTS Extreme buses to CTA, even though Millennium had trouble screwing together several standard RTS buses for NJT, or Coach and Equipment pushing the Ford Transit (it eventually got the Pace paratransit bus contract). Otherwise, instead of following your "we will have to see," you're wondering about ephemera. Asking about their future bidding plans or their existing automobiles is fantasyland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Transit Posted November 6 Report Share Posted November 6 I have no interest in or do I do any bidding for Rivaz...I could care less if Rivaz ever produces an ENC transit bus...I'm just an average Joe who works five days a week and uses public transportation...like I posted before only time will tell if Rivaz is the real deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted November 6 Report Share Posted November 6 8 hours ago, Mr.Transit said: only time will tell if Rivaz is the real deal So, why did you post stuff like what batteries they will use, on what they will bid, or if anyone has seen their automobiles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Transit Posted November 6 Report Share Posted November 6 It's simple, given the off chance Rivas is legit, Also since you have a great interest who I am, I been a transit bus enthusiast since I was a young child...I'm 68 years old and never worked in the transit industry...too late for me now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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