Orion Bus Industries 'Orion VII'

Orion VII
Orion VII Diesel
VII (Diesel)
Years of manufacture	2001 to 2007
Length	32.5 to 40 feet
Width	102 inches
Power/Fuel	Diesel, Diesel Electric Hybrid, CNG
Orion VII HEV
VII (Diesel Electric Hybrid)

The Orion Bus Industries Orion VII is the flagship product for Orion Bus Industries. Starting in 2001, the Orion VII wis marketed as a low floor bus to the North American market. It is based on the Orion VI true low floor bus design. Instead of being a true low floor bus like its predecessor, the Orion VII has a step up at the rear section of the bus that provides additional passenger seats and standee capacity (similar to a D40LF). The Orion VII could be powered by diesel, compressed natural gas (CNG), or diesel with electricity in a diesel-electric series hybrid configuration.

The bus's frame was of either mild steel or stainless steel. The monocoque structure is clad with fibreglass and aluminium panels. The engine is mounted longitudinally at the rear to the transmission in a T-drive arrangement for pure diesel and CNG-powered models. The engine on hybrid models is placed transversely at the rear right side of the bus and is connected to the electric genorator to the left. The high floor section at the rear allowed for the use of the standard rear axle design that was more closely related to the Orion V instead of that of the Orion VI. On disel-powered Orion VIIs, a 125 gallon (473 litre) fuel tank is placed under the high floor section. CNG-powered models have their fuel tanks housed in an enclosure located on the roof. Hybrid Orion VIIs have a sealed lead acid battery pack for hybrid system energy storage located on the roof a little foward of the middle of the bus's length.

In 2007, Orion redesigned the exterior to incorporate more stylish features such as an updated front and rear end and bonded-type passenger glazing, now called the Orion VII Next Generation. At the same time, the old styling of the Orion VII ceased production as Orion focused on the new and improved Next Generation Model.

Models

Model Number	Length (feet, inches)	Length (mm)
07.501	40' 10.5"	12,459
07.502	35' 11"	10,947
07.503	32' 5"	9,881

Specifications

Dimensions

• Length: 32.5’, 35’, 40’
• Width: 102"
• Height: 118.5” over roof hatch (Diesel), 135” (CNG), 132” (Hybrid)
• GVWR: 42,540 lb
• Overhang (f/r): 86,5” front, 118” rear (incl. bumper)
• Wheelbase: 190” (30’), 226” (35’), 286” (40’)
• Turning Radius: 29’-8” - 43’-3”
• Step Height (f/r): 14.5” from ground, 11” kneeled
• Floor Height (aisle): 15.5”

Engine

• Cummins ISB (for HEV, 2001-present)
• Cummins ISL (2004-2007)
• Cummins Westport C Gas Plus (CNG, no longer offered after 2007)
• Detroit Diesel Series 50 EGR (2001-2006)
• Detroit Diesel Series 50G (CNG, 2001-2006)
• John Deere 6081H (CNG, No longer offered after 2006)

Transmission

• Allison B400R (2001-2007)
• Voith D864.3E (2001-2007)
• ZF HP592 (2001-2007)

Hybrid Sytem

• BAE Systems HybriDrive

Energy Storage

• Hawker XT sealed lead-acid batteries (2003-2007)

HVAC

• Thermo King (rear mount); AC 108.000 BTU, Heat 95.000 BTU, Defroster 59.000 BTU

Suspension

• Full air ride

Axles

• Front: ArvinMeritor FH946 16,500 lb
• Rear: ArvinMeritor 61163 28,600 lb

Brakes

• “S” Cam Drum, Auto Slack Adjusters

Electrical System

• Solid State Multiplex 24 V

Tire Size

• 305/70 R 22.5

Doors

• Front (Slide Glide) 36.5”
• Rear (Slide Glide) 36.5”

Ramp

• Front entrance 32” x 44”, flip out

Fuel Tank Capacity

• 125 US Gallons (Diesel)
• 100 US Gallons (Hybrid)

Operators

Canada

• Brantford Transit - Brantford, ON
• Edmonton Transit System - Edmonton, AB
• Grand River Transit - Waterloo Region, ON
• Mississauga Transit - Mississauga, ON
• Niagara Transit - Niagara Falls, ON
• Oakville Transit - Oakville, ON
• Saint John Transit - Saint John, NB
• Sault Ste. Marie Transit - Sault Ste. Marie, ON
• Toronto Transit Commission - Toronto, ON
• Thunder Bay Transit - Thunder Bay, ON
• Transit Windsor - Windsor, ON

United States

• Asheville Transit System - Asheville, NC
• Bee-Line System - Westchester County, NY
• Clayton County Transit (C-Tran) - Jonesboro & Clayton County, GA
• Concord Area Transit (CAT) - Concord, NH
• Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority - Corpus Christi, TX
• CyRide - Ames, IA
• Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority - Des Moines, IA
• Golden Empire Transit (GET) - Bakersfield, CA
• Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA) - Attleboro & Taunton, MA
• Greater Portland Transit District (METRO) - Portland, ME
• Gwinnett County Transit - Gwinnett County, GA
• Housatonic Area Regional Transit (HART) - Danbury, CT
• Manchester Transit Authority (MTA) - Manchester, NH
• Metro Area Transit (MAT) - Fargo, ND & Moorhead, MN
• Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) - Atlanta, GA
• Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) - New York, NY
• Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART) - Piedmont Triad, NC
• Port Authority of New York and New Jersey - New York, NY
• Ride-On - Montgomery County, MD
• Roosevelt Island Operating Corp. - New York, NY
• Sacramento Regional Transit District (RT) - Sacramento, CA
• Saginaw Transit Authority Regional Services (STARS) - Saginaw, MI
• Salem-Keizer Transit (Cherriots) - Salem, OR
• San Francisco MUNI - San Francisco, CA
• Ulster County Area Transit (UCAT) - Ulster County
• Unitrans - Davis, CA
• Valley Transit - Appleton, WI
• Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA) - Washington, DC
• Yolo County Transportation District (Yolobus) - Woodland & Yolo County, CA

Demonstrator and engineering units

Below is a list of known demonstrator and engineering buses

Fleet number	Thumbnail	Year	VIN	Engine	Transmission	Notes
1043		Jan 2001	1VH7H3P2516700003	Cummins ISB	BAE Systems HybriDrive hybrid system	Demoed with TTC as 1043 Currently with MTB
		2001	1VH7H3C2116700005			CNG Flip dot rear sign.
		2001	1VHGH3C1816700011	Detroit Diesel Series 50G	Allison B400R
		2001		Detroit Diesel Series 50G	Allison B400R	CNG Has USSC Aries seats in red
		2002	2B1FH3M2925700058	Detroit Diesel Series 50	Allison B400R
		2002	2B1FH3M2425700064
		2003?	1VA73H2126700631	Cummins ISC	Voith D864.3E
		2004	1VHFH3A2046700936
		2005
7000		2005		Cummins ISB	BAE Systems HybriDrive hybrid system	To NYCMTA specs
1255A						CNG Next Generation rear
1280A						Next Generation rear