Calif. city adds first CNG paratransit vehicles

[IMAGE]New-PBuses-002-2.jpg[/IMAGE]Culver City, Calif., has taken delivery of its first dedicated compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered paratransit buses. The three new buses operate on clean-burning natural gas to further compliment the city's growing fleet and dedication to CNG vehicles. They replace three 10-year-old gasoline-powered buses.

"This is commensurate with and achieves the goal towards the city's efforts to continue and remove itself from foreign oil/fossil fuels wherever possible," said Paul Condran, equipment maintenance manager.

The buses are equipped to accommodate 15 passengers and are fully ADA-compliant. With El Dorado Aerotech bodies, the buses are built on Ford F-450 chassis and include a 6.8L dedicated CNG engine and four high-capacity Luxfer CNG tanks with 28 GGE (gasoline gallon equivalents) with a fuel door micro switch to prohibit accidental drive-away.

The buses include new electronic destination signs and are enhanced with a new paint scheme.

The Equipment Maintenance & Fleet Services Division attained additional grant money to offset 75 percent of the original cost of the buses, defraying all but approximately 25 percent of the total vehicle purchase cost.