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, is a low floor transit bus marketed in North America. The bus can be powered by diesel, compressed natural gas (CNG), or a diesel-electric hybrid configuration. Initially available as a series hybrid, in August 2010, Orion announced they will be offering a parallel hybrid system available in 2011.[1] The bus's frame can be of either mild steel or stainless steel, and the monocoque structure is clad with fibreglass and aluminum panels.
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 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 is mounted longitudinally at the rear to the transmission in a T-drive arrangement for traditional diesel and CNG-powered models. On hybrid models, the engine is inline to the generator. 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 on the roof. Hybrid models have their batteries in an enclosure on the roof. Sealed lead acid batteries have the older style squared enclosure, while lithium ion batteries have a more rounded enclosure.
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]
In May 2010 at the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Bus & Paratransit Conference, Orion introduced an updated model which met the EPA 2010 emissions standard.[4] 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 above the engine was needed for the exhaust after-treatment system. On hybrid models, the propulsion control unit was also moved from the roof at the rear to the former location of the HVAC. The engine and generator on hybrids, initially placed transversely at the rear, was changed to an inline configuration. A number of prototypes were built meeting 2010 standards in 2009.
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. The driver's 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 debuted at the APTA Expo in 2008 where 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 6AP1400B (2010-present)
- ZF 6HP594C (2007-2010)
Hybrid sytem
- Allison H 40 EP (parallel, 2011-pesent)
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
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 | 2B1FH3G54A5704779 | Cummins ISL9 | ZF 6AP1400B 6 speed |
| |
PT4 | 2009 | Cummins ISL9 | ZF 6AP1400B 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 6AP1400B 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 (Press release). Daimler Buses North America. Retrieved on 18 August 2010.
- ↑ BAE Systems to Participate in Fuel Cell Bus Program (Press release). BAE Systems. 13 November 2006. Retrieved on 07 April 2011.
- ↑ BAE Systems Projects (page 9). AB 118 Hydrogen Workshop. 29 September 2009. Retrieved on 07 April 2011.
- ↑ The Updated Orion VII Transit Bus for 2010 Makes its World Debut at the APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference (Press release). Daimler Buses North America. 3 May 2010. Retrieved on 3 May.
- Personal notes & sightings