New York City Transit Hybrid and CNG Transit Buses: Interim Evaluation Results

摘要

This report is part of a series of evaluations from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). DOE, through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), has been tracking and evaluating new propulsion systems in transit buses and trucks for more than 10 years using an established and documented evaluation protocol. DOE/NREL evaluated the original 10 prototype diesel hybrid buses from Orion and BAE Systems (model Orion VI buses) operated at New York City Transit (NYCT). That evaluation was reported in July 2002 and provided results from the prototype buses from 1998 through 2001. These DOE/NREL vehicle evaluations are a part of the Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity (AVTA), which supports DOE's FreedomCAR & Vehicle Technologies Program. The role of AVTA is to bridge the gap between research and development and commercial availability of advanced vehicle technologies that reduce U.S. petroleum use while improving air quality. The main objective of AVTA projects is to provide comprehensive, unbiased evaluations of advanced technologies. Data collected and analyzed include the operation, maintenance, performance, safety, cost, and emissions characteristics of advanced technology fleets and comparable conventional technology fleets operating at the same site. By comparing available advanced and conventional technology vehicles, AVTA evaluations help fleet owners and operators make informed purchasing decisions. This report focuses on compressed natural gas (CNG) and diesel hybrid electric bus propulsion systems in NYCT's transit buses. Both of these propulsion systems are alternatives to standard diesel buses and allow for reductions in petroleum use and emissions (usually focused on reductions of particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen). CNG propulsion is an alternative to diesel fuel use, and diesel hybrid propulsion allows for increased fuel economy, which, in turn, is a reduction in petroleum use.