Orion International 'Orion VII'
Orion VII | |
---|---|
Orion VII HEV | |
Years of manufacture | 2007 to present |
Length | 32.5 to 40 feet |
Width | 102 inches |
Propulsion | Diesel, Diesel-electric hybrid, CNG |
The Orion International Orion VII, originally known as the Orion VII Next Generation (abbreviated to "NG"), is a low floor transit bus marketed in North America. The bus can be powered by diesel, compressed natural gas (CNG), or diesel with electricity in a diesel-electric series hybrid configuration. In August 2010, Orion announced they will be offering a parallel hybrid system. It has began being quoted for active bids and will be available in 2011.[1] The bus's frame can be of either mild steel or stainless steel. The monocoque structure is clad with fibreglass and aluminum panels.
In November 2006, BAE Systems announced they were working with Orion and Hydrogenics to integrate a fuel cell into a Next Generation bus. The fuel cell provided by Hydrogenics will work as an auxiliary power unit with BAE's HybridDrive system and a diesel engine. Accessories such as air conditioning, air compressors, power steering, cooling fans and pumps, and a 28-volt electric power generator will be powered by the fuel cell instead of the diesel engine.[2] By August 2010, the hydrogen fuel system and other roof accessories were installed, and the hybrid system and electric accessories were being installed. The bus was completed by late 2010 and is to go into revenue service with San Francisco MUNI for a yearlong test.[3]
Originally introduced as the Orion VII Next Generation, it was the restyled and updated successor to the Orion VII. It was unveiled in 2007 and was designed with features to meet the EPA 2007 emissions standard in mind such as installation of a 2007-compliant engine with diesel particulate filter. The first Next Generation VII was delivered to Saint John Transit.
The engine was mounted longitudinally at the rear to the transmission in a T-drive arrangement for pure diesel and CNG-powered models. The engine on diesel-electric hybrid models was placed transversely at the rear right side of the bus and is connected to the electric generator to the left. On diesel-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 models also have enclosures on the roof in the middle and at the rear. The one at the rear houses the propulsion/power control system (PCS), which was originally in the engine compartment. The batteries are in an enclosure forward of the PCS. Sealed lead acid batteries have the older style squared enclosure, while lithium ion batteries have a more rounded enclosure. At one point Orion, had plans to cover both enclosures in a shroud running from the front of the bus to the PCS.[4] This idea has since been dropped.
In May 2010 at the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Bus & Paratransit Conference, Orion introduced an updated model for 2010 which met the EPA 2010 emissions standard.[5] This model featured a number of changes, and is known simply as the Orion VII with Orion dropping the "Next Generation" name. The HVAC was moved to the roof as part of the space of its original location was needed for the exhaust after-treatment system. On hybrid models, the PCS is also placed where the HVAC was formerly located. Another change to the hybrid models is the engine on 2010 hybrids is mounted longitudinally at the centre of the rear as on the pure diesel and CNG-powered models. In early 2009, a few hybrid prototypes were built meeting 2010 standards and the original demo, 1291A, was later converted to a 2010 compliant diesel-electric hybrid.
The doors for the 2010 model were also changed. The rear door was made level in height with the front door and the windows on the front and rear door received square edges. The front door features full-length single-piece window panes. The rear door has the same design, but the panes are split horizontally on level with the bottom window line.[6] The drivers window was revised as well using a traditionally glazed design instead of the flush mounted one. The sliding window panes now have a frame around them to add strength. An option added late in 2010 was the use of standard passenger glazing. This option made it onto a batch of NGs for New York MTA Long Island Bus.
In early 2010 the Orion VII received a partial redesign with the area of the grill on the top rear of the VII changed. The most noticeable difference is the change from the asymmetrical grill design to a crescent shaped design. In April 2010, the prototype unit for King County Metro was spotted with the redesigned rear, and two demonstrators (Sales 1 and Sales 2) with the same rear were later spotted.
A feature that can be added to the Orion VII is a BRT styling package. This adds a full length roof enclosure from the front to the rear. The concept debut at the APTA Expo in 2008 with a rendering of the BRT-styled bus was displayed. The first bus that received the roof treatment was 2009 demo PT1. It was unveiled at Daimler Buses' Transit Clinic in Mississauga, Ontario. The roof enclosure was later revised with a more sloping front end that was integrated into the destination sign area. This design debut in May 2010 with 2010 demo Sales 1.
Models
Model number | Length (feet, inches) |
Length (metres) |
---|---|---|
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, 2007-2010), 129" (diesel, 2010-present), 135” (CNG), 132” (HEV)
- 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 ISB6.7 EPA 2010, 6.7L, 280 hp (HEV, 2010-present)
- Cummins ISL9 EPA 2010, 8.9L, 280 hp (2010-present)
- Cummins ISB EPA 2007, 6.7L, 260 hp (for HEV, 2007-2010)
- Cummins ISL EPA 2007, 8.9L, 280 hp (2007-2010)
- Cummins Westport ISL G EPA 2010, 8.9L, 280 hp (CNG, 2007-present)
Transmission
- Allison B400R (2007-present)
- Voith D864.5 (2007-present)
- ZF 6AP1200B (2010-present)
- ZF 6HP594C (2007-2010)
Hybrid sytem
- Allison EP40 System (parallel, come 2011)
- BAE Systems HybriDrive (series, 2007-present)
Energy storage
- BAE Systems 123 Lithium-Ion batteries (2008-present)
- Hawker XT sealed lead-acid batteries (2007-2008)
HVAC
- Carrier A316 (2010-present)
- Thermo King Athenia (2010-present)
- Thermo King rear mount; AC 108.000 BTU, Heat 95.000 BTU, Defroster 59.000 BTU (2007-2010 excluding CNG)
Electrical system
- Solid State Multiplex 24 V
Suspension
- Full air ride
Axles
- Front: ArvinMeritor FH946 16,500 lb
- Rear: ArvinMeritor 71173 28,600 lb
Brakes
- ArvinMeritor EX225H3 disk (2010-present)
- Cast Plus “S” Cam drum with auto slack adjusters (2007-present)
Tire size
- 305/70 R 22.5
Glazing
- Arow Global flush mounted passenger windows (2010-present)
- Hehr bonded in passenger windows (2007-2010)
Doors
- Front:
- Vapor Ameriview slide glide 36.5" (2009-present)
- Vapor slide glide 36.5” (2007-2010)
- Rear:
- Vapor Ameriview slide glide or flip out 36.5" (2009-present)
- Vapor slide glide or flip out 36.5” (2007-2010)
Ramp
- Front entrance 32” x 44”, flip out
Fuel tank capacity
- 125 US Gallons (Diesel)
- 100 US Gallons (Hybrid)
Operators
Canada
- OC Transpo - Ottawa, ON
- Mississauga Transit - Mississauga, ON
- Niagara Falls Transit - Niagara Falls, ON
- Saint John Transit - Saint John, NB
- Sault Ste. Marie Transit - Sault Ste. Marie, ON
- Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) - Toronto, ON
United States
- Augusta Transit - Augusta, GA (2 units on order)
- Albany Transit System (ATS) - Albany, GA (6 units on order)
- Asheville Transit System - Asheville, NC
- Autoridad Metropolitana de Autobuses (AMA) - San Juan, PR
- Broome County Transit (B.C. Transit) - Binghamton, NY
- Bus Line Service of Turlock (BLAST) - Turlock, CA
- Butte Regional Transit - Butte County, CA
- Campus Area Transportation System (CATS) - University of Vermont
- Central New York Regional Transportation Authority (CENTRO) - Syracuse and Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga & Oneida counties, NY (62 units on order)
- Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority - Des Moines, IA
- Charm City Circulator (operated by Veolia Transportation) - Baltimore, MD
- Dutchess County LOOP - Dutchess County, NY
- Erie Metropolitan Transportation Authority - Erie, PA
- Elk Grove Transit (e-Tran) - Elk Grove, CA
- Fairfax Connector - Fairfax, VA
- Grand Canyon National Park Lodges - Grand Canyon, AZ
- King County Metro (KCM) - Seattle, WA
- Merced County Transit - Merced, CA
- Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) - New York, NY
- Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) - Houston, TX
- New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (NORTA) - New Orleans, LA
- New York University (operated by Academy Bus Lines) - New York, NY
- Pace - Suburban Chicago, IL (2 units on order)
- Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART) - Piedmont Triad, NC
- Port Authority of New York and New Jersey - New York, NY
- Razorback Transit - Fayetteville, AK
- Roosevelt Island Operating Corp. - New York, NY
- Sacramento Regional Transit District (RT) - Sacramento, CA
- Saginaw Transit Authority Regional Services - Saginaw, MI (5 units on order)
- Sonoma County Transit - Sonoma County, CA
- Stanislaus Regional Transit (StaRT) - Stanislaus County, CA
- Suffolk County Transit - Suffolk County, NY
- Thousand Oaks Transit - Thousand Oaks, CA
- Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) - Ithaca & Tompkins County, NY
- Ulster County Area Transit (UCAT) - Ulster County, NY
- Union City Transit - Union City, CA
- University of Georgia Campus Transit - Athens, GA
- Visalia City Coach (VCC) - Visalia, CA
- Yolo County Transportation District (Yolobus) - Woodland & Yolo County, CA
- Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) - Washington, DC (51 units on order)
Demonstrator and engineering units
Below is a list of known demonstrator and engineering buses
Fleet number | Thumbnail | Year | VIN | Engine | Transmission | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1291 | 2007 | Cummins ISB6.7 | BAE Systems HybriDrive hybrid system |
|||
1292 | 2007 | Cummins ISB | BAE Systems HybriDrive hybrid system |
| ||
1294 | 2007 | Cummins ISB | BAE Systems HybriDrive hybrid system |
| ||
1295 | 2007 | Cummins ISB | BAE Systems HybriDrive hybrid system |
| ||
1319A | 2008 | Cummins ISB | BAE Systems HybriDrive hybrid system |
|||
WO9353 | 2008 | Cummins ISL9 | EPA 2010 prototype | |||
PT1 | 2009 | Cummins ISB6.7 | BAE Systems HybriDrive hybrid system |
| ||
PT2 | 2009 | Cummins ISB6.7 | BAE Systems HybriDrive hybrid system |
| ||
PT3 | 2009 | Cummins ISL9 | ZF 6AP1200B 6 speed |
| ||
PT4 | 2009 | Cummins ISL9 | ZF 6AP1200B 6 speed |
| ||
PT5 | 2009 | 1VHHH3V58A6705195 | Cummins ISB6.7 | BAE Systems HybriDrive hybrid system |
| |
PT BARO | 2009 | Cummins ISB6.7 | BAE Systems HybriDrive hybrid system |
| ||
Sales 1 | 2010 | 1VHHH3P50A6705415 | Cummins ISB6.7 | BAE Systems HybriDrive hybrid system |
| |
Sales 2 | 2010 | 1VHFH3G23A6705552 | Cummins ISL9 | ZF 6AP1200B 6 speed |
| |
PT6 | August 2010 | 1VHGH3W53A6705986 | Cummins Westport ISL G | Allison B400R |
| |
Sales 3 | August 2010 | 1VHHH3V22A6706963 | Cummins ISB6.7 | BAE Systems HybriDrive hybrid system |
| |
PT7 | 2011 | Cummins ISL9 | Allison H 40 EP hybrid system |
Allison hybrid demo |
References
- ↑ The Orion VII Expands Hybrid Product Offerings, dcbusna.com, retrieved on 2010-08-18
- ↑ BAE Systems to Participate in Fuel Cell Bus Program, baesystems.com, retrieved on 2011-04-07
- ↑ BAE Systems Projects (page 9), energy.ca, retrieved on 2011-04-07
- ↑ Orion rendering uploaded to CPTDB, cptdb.ca, retrieved on 2010-06-25
- ↑ The Updated Orion VII Transit Bus for 2010 Makes its World Debut at the APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference, dcbusna.com, retrieved on 2010-05-03
- ↑ Daimler Orion VII Fact Sheet, orionbus.com, retrieved on 2009-08-02
- Personal notes & sightings