The use of alternative-fuel transit buses, in lieu of conventional diesel buses,is required under both South Coast Rule 1192 and the California Air Resources Board Urban Transit Bus Rule. The MSRC, using its discretionary Clean Transportation Funding, offers incentives to transit operators who purchase buses that go "above and beyond" mandated emission reductions. The use of gasoline hybrid-electric buses qualifies as an advanced technology vehicle under the AQMD and CARB rules, and due to this technology's low emissions, qualifies for financial assistance from the MSRC.
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Norwalk Transit System procured the three gasoline hybrid electric vehicles under a joint procurement with the City of Long Beach. The purpose of the joint procurement was to meet the demand for community shuttle service to interface with major transit centers connecting light rail and commuter rail service and to expand the existing fleet for intercommunity services. A bus bid specification was prepared detailing vehicle design and performance parameters. The purchase contract was awarded to New Flyer of America. The first two buses were delivered on August 5, 2005. Following acceptance testing, the two hybrid-electric buses were placed into revenue service on September 1, 2005. The third bus suffered damage during transit for delivery in February 2006 and had to be returned to the manufacturer for repair. This bus was subsquently repaired and redelivered in march 2006. Following acceptance testing the bus was put into revenue service on August 17, 2007.
The objective of this project was to procure new urban transit buses that surpass emission reduction requirements levied by the South Coast AQMD and CARB, but avoid having to install new bus refueling infrastructure associated with other low-emission fuels such as natural gas. The gasoline hybrid-electric vehicles operate on conventional unleaded gasoline, readily available at Norwalk Transit.
The gasoline hybrid electric transit buses have essentially zero particulate matter emissions and low NOx emissions on the order of 0.6 g/bhp-hr.
The vehicles are currently operating in revenue service. Initial technical issues, including issues associated with engine power, the air conditioning system, and the fire supression system, were diagnosed and repaired. All repairs were completed under warranty from the manufacturer.
City of Long Beach