New Flyer Low Floor

Last updated

New Flyer Low Floor
CTA 2006 New Flyer D40LF 1378.jpg
WMATA 2006 New Flyer D40LFR 6128.jpg
King County Metro New Flyer DE60LFA.jpg
Top: D40LF (2006)
Middle: D40LFR (2006)
Bottom: DE60LFA (articulated, 2010)
Overview
Manufacturer New Flyer
Production1991–2013 (1988 pre-production) (LF)
2006–2014 (2005 pre-production) (LFR)
2005–2010 (LFA)
Body and chassis
Class Transit bus
Body style Monocoque stressed-skin
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission
  • Allison B300R (30-foot) [1]
  • Allison B400R (35- & 40-foot) [2] [3]
  • Allison B500R (60-foot) [4]
  • Allison H 40/50 EP (HExx)
  • ISE-Siemens ThunderVolt (GExx) [5]
  • Voith
  • ZF
Dimensions
Wheelbase
  • 169.08 in (4.29 m) (30-foot)
  • 228.25 in (5.80 m) (35-foot)
  • 293 in (7.44 m) (40-foot)
  • F:228.22 in (5.80 m) / R:302.77 in (7.69 m) (60-foot artic.)
Lengthover bumpers:
  • 30.5 ft (9.3 m) (30-foot)
  • 35.5 ft (10.8 m) (35-foot)
  • 40.85 ft (12.5 m) (40-foot)
  • 60.7 ft (18.5 m) (60-foot artic.)
Width102 in (2.59 m)
Height121 in (3.07 m) (diesel, over A/C) to 132 in (3.35 m) (CNG)
Curb weight
  • 24,500 to 26,000 lb (11,100 to 11,800 kg) (30-foot)
  • 26,200 to 28,700 lb (11,900 to 13,000 kg) (35-foot)
  • 27,200 to 29,700 lb (12,300 to 13,500 kg) (40-foot)
  • 41,500 to 43,700 lb (18,800 to 19,800 kg) (60-foot artic.)
Chronology
Predecessor New Flyer High Floor
Successor New Flyer Invero
New Flyer Xcelsior

The New Flyer Low Floor is a line of low-floor transit buses that was manufactured by New Flyer Industries between 1991 and 2014. It was available in 30-foot rigid, 35-foot rigid, 40-foot rigid, and 60-foot articulated lengths. In addition to the different available lengths, the buses were sold with a variety of prime movers, ranging from conventional diesel and CNG combustion engines to diesel-electric hybrid, gasoline hybrid, and hydrogen fuel cell.

Contents

The New Flyer Low Floor was restyled in 2005, resulting in two distinct variants: the Low Floor Restyled (LFR), which largely replaced the conventional Low Floor for transit service, and the Low Floor Advanced (LFA), which was intended for bus rapid transit service. New Flyer introduced the Invero in 1999 with the intent that it would replace the Low Floor line, but few were sold; in 2008, New Flyer introduced the Xcelsior, and the Low Floor line was discontinued by 2014.

Design

Model Codes
Motive powerLengthModel
C = compressed natural gas
D = diesel
DE = diesel-electric hybrid
E = electric trolleybus
F or H = hydrogen fuel cell
GE = gasoline-electric hybrid
HE = hydrogen-electric hybrid
L = liquefied natural gas
30 = 30 feet (9.1 m)
35 = 35 feet (11 m)
40 = 40 feet (12 m)
60 = 60 feet (18 m) articulated
LF = Low Floor
LFR = Low Floor Restyled
LFA (initially LF-BRT) = Low Floor Advanced

For example, a New Flyer DE40LFR is a 40-foot (nominal) rigid Low Floor (Restyled) with diesel-electric hybrid power. Not all combinations of models, lengths, and powertrains were made.

New Flyer Low Floor combinations produced
PowerLow Floor (LF)Low Floor Restyled (LFR)Low Floor Advanced (LFA)
30LF35LF40LF60LF30LFR35LFR40LFR60LFR35LFA40LFA60LFA
C
D
DE
E
F/H
GE
HE
L

The New Flyer Low Floor is based on the Den Oudsten B85/B86, a bus design initially introduced in 1984 by the Dutch company Den Oudsten. Den Oudsten purchased Flyer Industries in 1986, and the newly renamed New Flyer introduced the High Floor series with the D40HF in 1987. A B85 was sent to the United States for testing in 1988, and New Flyer subsequently developed and launched the Low Floor series with the D40LF, which began production in 1991 at the Grand Forks assembly plant. [6] [7]

The first low-floor articulated buses (D60LF) were introduced by New Flyer in 1995. Other milestones include the first natural gas-powered buses (C/L40LF, 1994), the first hydrogen fuel cell buses (F40LF, 1994), the first diesel-electric hybrid buses (DE40LF, 1998), the first gasoline-electric hybrid buses (GE40LF, 2002), and the first hydrogen-electric hybrid bus (HE40LF, 2004). [8] One prototype Low Floor trolleybus was introduced in 2005, sold to Coast Mountain Bus Company as an E40LF model; since New Flyer were introducing their Low Floor Restyled series that year, production of Low Floor trolleybuses has been designated as E40LFR and E60LFR.

Hybrid powertrains

The series hybrid powertrain is supplied by ISE Corporation, branded ThunderVolt. The ISE ThunderVolt system is modular, with several primary subsystems including a diesel, gasoline, or hydrogen-fueled auxiliary power unit (APU), traction motors and gearbox (supplied by Siemens under the ELFA brand), and energy storage (using either batteries or ultracapacitors). [9]

Gasoline

Emissions regulations developed by the South Coast Air Quality Management District prevented local transit agencies in southern California from purchasing new diesel-powered transit buses after 2002. Although most agencies responded by pursuing natural gas-powered buses, Long Beach Transit (LBT) conducted a cost analysis that concluded a gasoline-electric hybrid could meet emissions requirements and also be cost-effective. LBT went on to purchase 47 model year 2004 and 2005 GE40LF buses, [10] the first major purchase of the GE40LF. [9]

For the GE40LF delivered to LBT, the gasoline-electric hybrid APU uses a light-duty 6.8 L Ford Triton V-10 engine rated at 305 hp (227 kW) at 4,250 RPM and 405 lb⋅ft (549 N⋅m) at 3,250 RPM coupled to a 110 kW (150 hp) generator (145 kW (194 hp) peak). The electricity generated by the APU is stored in two banks of 144 ultracapacitors each. Stored power is sent to two three-phase asynchronous traction motors, each rated at 85 kW (114 hp) (150 kW (200 hp) peak) and 320 N⋅m (240 lb⋅ft) (450 N⋅m (330 lb⋅ft) peak), which drive the rear axle through a combining gearbox with a peak output torque of 4,860 N⋅m (3,580 lb⋅ft). [10] :4 The Siemens ELFA traction motors and combining gearbox are the same in all ThunderVolt implementations. [9]

Hydrogen

ISE also built the ThunderVolt TB40-HICE, a prototype 40-foot hydrogen-electric hybrid Low Floor. [11] This prototype, designated HE40LF, was equipped with the ISE ThunderVolt series hybrid powertrain, using a Ford 6.8L V10 internal combustion engine modified to run on hydrogen, which was in turn coupled to a generator to provide energy for the traction motor and storage battery. It was tested by SunLine Transit Agency (who assigned it fleet number 550) and Winnipeg Transit in early 2005 in revenue service. [12] The derelict HE40LF was displayed by Ken Porter Auctions in early 2020 and presumably sold for scrap. [13]

Deployment

Interior and sound of New Flyer C40LF bus in New York City

The first New Flyer Low Floor buses were delivered to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in 1992. [8] The first articulated Low Floor (D60LF), an ex-demo unit, was sold to Strathcona County Transit in Alberta in 1996. [14] That bus, which Strathcona designated 950, was retired and sold at auction in 2009 or 2010. [15]

Omnitrans, serving the city of San Bernardino, was the lead agency for the ISE ThunderVolt gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain deployed in the GE40LF. [16] Omnitrans procured two of the three testing prototypes; Long Beach Transit placed the first large-volume regular production order. [9]

Coast Mountain Bus Company designated their E40LF as TransLink 2101, which was unveiled at Stanley Park in 2005. [17] Although it is designated an E40LF, 2101 bears the updated front and rear fascias of the LFR "Restyled" models. [18]

H40LFR fuel cell vehicles

Twenty-one examples of the fuel cell "restyled" variant designated H40LFR were operated by SunLine Transit Agency and BC Transit. [19] 20 H40LFR buses were built for BC Transit in 2010 at an estimated total cost of CA$89.5 million, including operating costs through 2014. They were meant to showcase fuel cell vehicles during the 2010 Winter Olympics. [20] After 2014, BC Transit announced plans to sell off their H40LFR buses, stating that operating costs were double that of conventional diesel-powered buses. [21]

Competition

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercedes-Benz Citaro</span> Low-floor bus from Mercedes-Benz/EvoBus

The Mercedes-Benz Citaro is a single-decker, rigid or articulated bus manufactured by Mercedes-Benz/EvoBus. Introduced in 1997, the Citaro is available in a range of configurations, and is in widespread use throughout Europe and parts of Asia, with more than 55,000 produced by December 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edmonton Transit Service</span> Public transit service in Canada

The Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) is the public transit service owned and operated by the City of Edmonton in Alberta, Canada. It operates Edmonton's bus and light rail systems. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 87,646,600, or about 323,800 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hybrid electric bus</span> Bus that combines internal combustion and electric propulsion systems

A hybrid electric bus is a bus that combines a conventional internal combustion engine propulsion system with an electric propulsion system. These type of buses normally use a Diesel–electric powertrain and are also known as hybrid Diesel–electric buses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orion VI</span> Low-floor transit bus

The Orion VI was a low-floor transit bus available in 40' lengths manufactured by Ontario Bus Industries between 1995 and 2003. The Orion VI was intended to provide an alternative to the existing high-floor Orion V; both the V and VI were replaced by the partially low-floor Orion VII.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ISE Corporation</span> American hybrid electric powertrain system manufacturer

ISE Corporation was a manufacturer and integrator of heavy-duty hybrid electric powertrain systems for transit bus and truck use, based in San Diego and later Poway, California. ISE was founded in 1995 and filed for bankruptcy in 2010, shortly after raising $20 million in its initial public offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orion VII</span> Low-floor transit bus

The Orion VII is a line of low-floor transit buses available in 30' rigid, 35' rigid, and 40' rigid lengths manufactured by Daimler Buses North America's subsidiary Orion Bus Industries between 2001 and 2013 in three generations. The conventional powered buses, either with longitudinally-mounted diesel or natural gas engines, used a T-drive transmission coupling. A series hybrid variant powered by a diesel-driven generator was also available. The Orion VII replaced the fully low-floor Orion VI and high-floor Orion V buses, and was manufactured until its parent company DaimlerChrysler withdrew from the transit bus market in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MAN Lion's City</span> German public transit buses

The MAN Lion's City is a range of low-floor and low-entry public buses built by German truck and bus manufacturer MAN Truck & Bus since 1996 primarily for the European market, but is also available in chassis-only variants worldwide. The name Lion's City has been used since 2006, when MAN's public bus models which had been marketed separately were gathered into one range, when also most models received a facelift. The first models to be introduced were the 12-metre low-floor intercity bus NÜ xx3 (A20) in 1996, the 12-metre city bus NL xx3 (A21) in 1997 and the articulated NG xx3 (A23) in 1998. As with former MAN bus models the power-rating made up part of the model name, giving the NÜ-series buses with power-ratings of 260 and 310 hp model names NÜ 263 and NÜ 313 respectively. The main production sites are in Starachowice and Sady in Poland, but the models have also been built in Germany, Turkey and Malaysia. Initially most of the midibus variants were manufactured by Göppel Bus in Augsburg, later Nobitz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gillig Low Floor</span> American transit bus type

The Gillig Low Floor is a transit bus manufactured by Gillig since 1997. The second low-floor bus design introduced in the United States, the Low Floor originally served as a second product range for the company alongside the Gillig Phantom. As transit bus operators shifted toward low-floor designs, the Low Floor has replaced the Phantom entirely, becoming the sole vehicle platform offered by the company since 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nova Bus LFS</span> Motor vehicle

The Low Floor Series (LFS) is a series of transit buses manufactured by Nova Bus for North American customers from 1996 to the present. It is produced in 40' rigid and 62' articulated (nominal) lengths with a variety of powertrains, including conventionally-fueled, hybrid diesel-electric, and battery-electric. The LFS is the first transit bus designed by Nova Bus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Flyer Xcelsior</span> Line of transit buses built by New Flyer

The New Flyer Xcelsior is a line of transit buses available in 35-foot rigid, 40-foot rigid, and 60-foot articulated nominal lengths manufactured by New Flyer Industries since 2008. In addition to the different available lengths, the buses are sold with a variety of propulsion systems: conventional diesel, compressed natural gas (CNG), diesel-electric hybrid, hydrogen fuel cell, overhead electric wire and battery electric. A future autonomous bus variant was announced in January 2021.

As of 2019, King County Metro operates the seventh largest fleet of buses in the United States, with a total of 1,583 buses. The agency's buses traveled a total of 53 million miles (85,000,000 km) and transported over 123 million passengers in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Flyer</span> Canadian multinational bus manufacturer

New Flyer is a Canadian multinational bus manufacturer, specializing in the production of transit buses. New Flyer is owned by the NFI Group, a holding company for several bus manufacturers. New Flyer has several manufacturing facilities in Canada and the United States that produce the company's main product, the New Flyer Xcelsior family of buses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Flyer Invero</span> Motor vehicle

The New Flyer Invero (D40i) is a line of low-floor transit buses that was manufactured by New Flyer Industries between 1999 and 2007. Produced as a 40-foot (nominal) rigid bus, the Invero was typically sold with a conventional diesel combustion engine, although a few diesel-electric hybrids were built, integrated by Stewart & Stevenson. New Flyer introduced the Invero in 1999 with the intent that it would replace the preceding New Flyer Low Floor line, but few Inveros were sold, and the line was discontinued in 2007; in 2008, New Flyer introduced the Xcelsior, replacing both the Low Floor and the Invero lines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NABI LFW</span> American low-floor transit buses

The NABI LFW is a line of low-floor transit buses available in 30' rigid, 35' rigid, 40' rigid, and 60' articulated lengths manufactured by North American Bus Industries (NABI) between 1997 and 2015. In addition to the different available lengths, the buses were sold with a variety of powertrains, including conventional diesel, LNG, and CNG combustion engines along with a diesel-electric hybrid system

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NABI BRT</span> Motor vehicle

The NABI BRT is a line of low-floor transit buses available in 60' articulated (60-BRT) and later 42' rigid (42-BRT) nominal lengths manufactured by North American Bus Industries (NABI) between 2004 and 2015. In addition to the different available lengths, the buses were sold with a variety of prime movers, ranging from conventional diesel and CNG combustion engines to diesel-electric hybrid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AC Transit fleet</span> Bus fleet of AC Transit, USA

The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District bus fleet, serving the counties of Alameda and Contra Costa, is the third-largest in California. It was initially formed in 1960 with a mixture of gasoline and diesel-powered buses purchased from its immediate predecessor, the privately owned Key System. The first new buses were purchased for AC Transit in 1960, shortly after its formation and the GM New Look buses were delivered later that year. The transit agency operated GM buses exclusively until 1974, when the first Flxible New Look buses were ordered. Since then, AC Transit has ordered and operated buses from most of the major North American transit bus manufacturers, including Flyer, Gillig, Motor Coach Industries, Neoplan USA, and North American Bus Industries, as well as Van Hool, a Belgian bus supplier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Proterra EcoRide</span> American battery electric transit bus

The Proterra EcoRide BE35 is a 35 foot (11 m) fast-charge battery electric bus that seats 38 with a total passenger capacity of 60 in its composite low floor body. Foothill Transit was the first transit agency to operate the buses in revenue service, starting in September 2010. It is the first 30 ft (9 m) or larger, heavy-duty all-electric bus ever to complete federally required durability, reliability and safety testing at the Bus Research and Testing Center in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The 12yr/500,000 mi (800,000 km) STURAA test was completed on March 5, 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ENC Axess</span> Motor vehicle

The ENC Axess is a line of low-floor transit buses available in 35-foot and 40-foot nominal lengths manufactured by ENC in Riverside, California starting from 2003. In addition to the different available lengths, the buses are sold with a variety of prime movers, ranging from conventional diesel, LNG/CNG combustion engines, diesel-electric hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell with a traction motor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ENC E-Z Rider</span> Motor vehicle

The ENC E-Z Rider and its successor E-Z Rider II are a line of low-floor, mid-sized, heavy-duty transit buses available in 30', 32', and 35' nominal lengths manufactured by ENC in Riverside, California starting from 1996. In addition to the different lengths, the buses are available with several powertrain options including traditional diesel, CNG, LNG, Propane, and diesel-electric hybrid.

References

  1. "D30/C30LF: 30' Low Floor Heavy Duty Transit Buses" (PDF). New Flyer Industries. September 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 13, 2004. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  2. "C35/40LF Natural Gas 35' & 40' Low Floor Urban Transit Bus" (PDF). New Flyer Industries. September 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 13, 2004. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  3. "D35/40LF Diesel 35' & 40' Low Floor Urban Transit Bus" (PDF). New Flyer Industries. September 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 1, 2003. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  4. "D60LF: Diesel 60' Low Floor Articulated Transit Bus" (PDF). New Flyer Industries. September 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 13, 2004. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  5. "Hybrid Transit Solutions: DE40LF, DE60LF, GE40LF, HE40LF" (PDF). New Flyer Industries. September 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 17, 2006.
  6. Brophy, Jim (June 12, 2016). "Bus Stop Classics: New Flyer D40LF – North America's First Low Floor Bus". Curbside Classics. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  7. Veerkamp, John. "Flyer, New Flyer and AMG transit buses". Coachbuilt. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  8. 1 2 "About". New Flyer of America. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Information on ThunderVolt". Alternative Energy Magazine. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  10. 1 2 Lammert, M. (June 2008). Long Beach Transit: Two-Year Evaluation of Gasoline-Electric Hybrid Transit Buses (PDF) (Report). National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  11. "Hydrogen Workshop for Fleet Operators" (PDF). The National Hydrogen Association. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  12. SunLine Tests HHICE Bus in Desert Climate (PDF) (Report). National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  13. Ex SunLine Transit Agency 2004 New Flyer HE40LF #550 on YouTube
  14. Lo, Kevin. "Strathcona County Transit New Flyer". Kevin's Bus and Rail. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  15. Baker, Ken (August 18, 2014). "Strathcona County Transit 1995 New Flyer D60LF #950". barp.ca. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  16. Duerst, G; Simon, M C (May 2001). A series hybrid-electric drive system optimized for large transit buses. Bus and Paratransit Conference. Calgary, Canada: American Public Transportation System. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  17. Lo, Kevin. "New flyer E40LFR". Kevin's Bus and Rail. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  18. Parsons, Martin (May 29, 2016). "CMBC - Translink Vancouver 2006 New Flyer E40LFR #2101". barp.ca. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  19. "SunLine Leads the Way in Demonstrating Hydrogen-Fueled Technologies" (PDF). National Renewable Energy Laboratory. January 2011. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  20. "Hydrogen-powered buses at Olympics under scrutiny". CBC. January 8, 2010. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  21. "BC Transit's $90M hydrogen bus fleet to be sold off, converted to diesel". CBC. December 4, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2018.