[IMAGE]MET1busconstory-opening-2.jpg[/IMAGE]While many of the newest unveilings centered around the cutaway market at the 2010 BusCon show, there was definitely still a drive toward greening the industry and upgrading products to improve efficiencies. The event, celebrating its 15th anniversary, displayed 58 vehicles and hosted more than 140 exhibitors at Chicago's Navy Pier September 29 to 30.
BusCon offered innovations ranging from new vehicles to environmentally friendly cooling systems and everything in between to attendees on the show floor, while technical sessions and speakers addressed topics such as alternative fuels, driver fatigue, securing coach funding and driver safety. Sessions designed for university transportation providers focused on sustainability and increasing levels of service.
Debuts, highlights
One groundbreaking innovation from the show floor was the unveiling of the Solar Hybrid Bus Powering System by Gary Bauer of Bauer's Intelligent Transportation of San Francisco.
The Solar Bus consists of four thin film solar panels that run the length of the bus and charge an on-board battery bank. When the bus engine is off, the batteries power the air-conditioning and wireless connectivity equipment to prevent idling.
"You are doing multiple things by utilizing this system: You are going green because you're cutting 40 percent of the emissions out by not having to run your bus and saving $14,000 a year on fuel, as well as the life of your engine, because you're not idling," explained Bauer.
The new prototype will have a smaller overall footprint, so it will be able to fit in a variety of bus sizes, according to Bauer, who has had the bus operating as part of his fleet since January 2010 with solid results.
Another new product on display at the show included IC Bus' AC Series, — its first fully integrated small shuttle bus - which features a proprietary design that enables bumper-to-bumper coverage and ensures customers have a single point of contact — the IC Bus network.
The AC Series bus is powered by the lightweight, 220 hp 6.4-liter MaxxForce 7 matched with an Allison 1000 Series transmission and features frame rails rated to 80,000 psi and a full-tilt hood, allowing for unobstructed access to the engine compartment.
Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. (FCCC) launched two products, including its highly anticipated S2 cutaway, featuring a near-complete shuttle bus cab, and the XB-P, 45-foot commercial bus chassis.
Built on a lightweight aluminum frame to reduce flex and bowing, minimize coach stress, and keep the driver and passengers comfortable, the FCCC S2 cutaway provides coach designers with options, including adding or removing certain cab amenities such as the rear wall, seating and roof top doors.
Additionally, the FCCC XB-P chassis is equipped with a 16,000-lb. ZF independent front suspension and a Neway ADL series rear air-ride suspension, and is equipped with a Cummins ISM 450 horsepower rear-diesel engine and an Allison B500 six-speed transmission.
Supreme Corp.'s StarTrans Bus division featured its P/S2 model, which is built on FCCC's S2 cutaway chassis. It is available in 31-, 34-, 37- and 39-foot lengths and has numerous seat configurations with seating for up to 41 passengers.
Foton America Bus Co., this year's booth winner for Most Innovative New Product, showcased its FCB-30-, 35- and 40-foot low-floor buses featuring the Cummins ISL-G natural gas engine. The FCB-Low Floor is Buy America-compliant and meets or exceeds all U.S. government standards on emissions.
Designed for wheelchair accessibility and exceeding ADA guidelines, the only purpose-built vehicle, the MV1 from MV Sales & Leasing, was also on display, featuring a durable body-on-frame architecture and a Ford electronic 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. It is available with either a Ford 4.6L unleaded gas or dedicated-CNG engine and comes with a manual wheelchair ramp, standard, or a powered-telescoping ramp, optional.
Speaking of ramps, Ricon Corp. showcased its compact, modularly-designed BR2C bi-fold access ramp for low-floor buses.
"The ramp is simple to operate and complies with all applicable ADA regulations," said John Condon, VP, commercial/transit sales — North America. "In addition, the BR2C does not require any special tools or procedures to manually operate the unit in the event of power loss."
Some of the many environmentally friendly products on the show floor included the Cummins Crosspoint VTM S-3000 hybrid power system for Class 3-7 vehicles, which has been tested by fleet users for two years and found to reduce emissions by as much as 35 percent and increase fuel mileage by 30 percent, and Micro Bird by Girardin's G5 cutaway powered by a Roush propane system and built on a Ford E-450 chassis.
Carrier Transport introduced its new cooling system for the small and mid-size bus market, the AC-430, which was showcased on several vehicles on the show floor. Thermo King unveiled its Slim Line Rooftop A/C unit (SLR), which allows for 90 percent of the maintenance to be performed from inside the bus due to the system configuration.
Additionally, Q'Straint debuted the Q'UBE, a completely integrated rear wheelchair securement module that will adapt to any vehicle layout, including paratransit and transit vehicles. REI, this year's Most Creative Display booth award winner, unveiled its VR-3000 DVD/CD/MP3/USB/SD player.
Alt fuels, 2010 compliance
The "Alternative-Fuel Panel of Experts: Fill Your Tank with Green Solutions" discussion featured Clean Energy's John Somers, the Propane Education and Research Council's Greg Zilberfarb and the National Biodiesel Board's Richard Nelson, each discussing the benefits of natural gas, propane and biodiesel, respectively, as well as the infrastructure and maintenance costs involved.
Currently, all major U.S. OEMs support at least B5 and lower blends, provided they are made with biodiesel meeting ASTM D 6751, and more than 55 percent of U.S. manufacturers now support B20 or higher blends in at least some of their equipment, with several more OEMs completing testing toward B20 support, according to Nelson.
For their part, Zilberfarb spoke of propane's growing usage, while Somers discussed the prevalence of natural gas production in North America — around 97 percent. Audience members discussed their experiences — both positive and negative - using alternative fuels as well as some of the learning curves.
Meanwhile, Michael Melaniphy, vice president, public sector, for Motor Coach Industries Inc. (MCI) spoke about the long road to building a 2010 EPA-compliant coach. Melaniphy's presentation included an in-depth explanation of what it took to bring a new power plant package to the market, from development to prototyping to testing to eventual production ramp up.
Specifically, Melaniphy discussed changes that were made to the coaches, such as re-engineering its cooling packages for all coaches to accommodate the 2010 engines, and the learning curve that comes with re-adapting a proven product to meet new compliance stipulations.
"Designs had to be changed to not only optimize performance, but also meet regulatory requirements," he said.
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University Transit
The University & Transit Track of sessions was helmed by Bob Bourne of Bourne Transit Consulting LLC, who presented "Looking Beyond the Norm to Provide a Green Level of Service."
Referencing the oft-cited "It's isn't easy being green" line from Kermit the Frog, Bourne told attendees to ask themselves "if going green is a nice marketing tool or does it stem from their genuine concern about the environment?"
He also discussed ways an operation can "go green," from the easy — switching to CFL light bulbs, setting back thermostats and cutting down on idling — to the not so easy — LEED-certified buildings, solar power and carbon neutral facilities.
However it was the "hard" ways to be green - calculating your level of service, increasing passenger volumes and improving service levels — that Bourne focused on. To this end, he spoke about the importance of becoming familiar with TCRP #100 study — Transit Capacity and Quality of Service Manual — to increase level of service intervals and, thus, improve such areas as hours of service, capacity and environmental impact.
Meanwhile, Brian Shaw, senior planner at Sam Schwartz Engineering, which focuses on helping campuses provide sustainable and cost-effective solutions to address their transportation needs, discussed his real-life experiences from implementing new or revamped university transit systems at Emory University, the University of Chicago, Winston-Salem State University and other institutions.
Finishing up the track in the afternoon, TransLoc Inc.'s Joshua Cohen spoke about the necessary "Tools to Boost Your Campus Ridership," including technology, transportation demand management and social marketing.
Safety and Preparedness
Bob Crescenzo of Lancer Insurance Co. presented an eye-opening discussion during the session on driver fatigue.
"What your driver is doing off the job is almost more important than what is done on the job," said Crescenzo, as he laid out the importance of drivers living healthy lifestyles and sleeping habits on and off duty.
He also discussed disorders such as insomnia, narcolepsy and sleep apnea, and how lost sleep impacts information processing, reduces alertness levels, slows reaction times and increases the likelihood of falling asleep. Many times, said Crescenzo, accidents occur because tired drivers fall asleep at the wheel, including drifting into "microsleep," where a driver closes his eyes for two to five seconds while traveling 440 feet at 60 mph, or what is called automatic behavior syndrome, where the brain is in a deep sleep while the drivers' eyes remain open.
Tips Crescenzo gave for operations to avoid catastrophic accidents included educating dispatchers and drivers, assigning drivers prudently, determining which drivers are most likely able to manage night or early morning trips, and not assigning a double to a driver who needs sleep even if they are within Hours of Service compliance. He also stressed understanding circadian rhythms and the simple truth that we are "programmed" to sleep at night and be awake during the day.
"It is hard for most people to concentrate and maintain alertness between midnight and 7 a.m.," he said, while also lending credence to the idea that some people are daytime folk or "night owls."
Crescenzo also addressed the General Session the following day to speak about the importance of developing, implementing and testing a serious incident response plan.
"If you think it won't happen to you or you don't need it, think again," said Crescenzo, while stressing the importance of not only developing an accident response plan but, also, practicing it at least once a year to work out the kinks and familiarize all involved so that it becomes almost routine.
During his presentation, Crescenzo spoke of the four important facets operations need to be prepared for within the first 24 hours when dealing with an accident: the crash, the response, control and wrap-up, stressing that it's important to have point people in each area who take detailed notes and engage in an open form of communication with one another.
Financing
MCI Financial Services Inc. Vice President/GM Mike Denny spoke to attendees about how to present their company to the financial community when trying to secure financing for vehicle purchases.
Denny explained that while the economy is still beginning to right itself, competitive deals are available as are low interest rates, however, operations may need to work harder to qualify. He also stressed having a good business plan in place for the vehicle before purchasing and not purchasing a piece of equipment because you think you should, ensuring that you have thought out how its use will help you both pay for itself over the course of the financing term as well as help you turn a profit.
"Just because you can, doesn't mean you should," said Denny.
Paratransit, maintenance
Transportation safety consultant Jack Burkert helmed two sessions this year: "The Perfect Ride: Providing Superior Customer Service for Passengers with Disabilities" and "Shop Safety & OSHA Compliance."
During the customer service presentation, Burkert discussed the various types of disabled passengers operators may meet and what they must do to satisfy their needs while being in compliance with ADA regulations.
"Think less of 'rights' and more about 'satisfaction,'" Burkert said. "First, your own satisfaction and then the satisfaction and thanks of those depending upon you."
Additionally, Halsey King of Halsey King and Associates Inc. discussed how to successfully modernize preventive maintenance programs with new technologies and communications without spending an arm and a leg.
While discussing some of the changes that have come along over the last 30 years, King also pointed to changes operations will need to be prepared for in the short term future, including hydrogen fuel cells; turbines with Lithium-ion batteries; selective catalytic reduction; Lithium Titanate cells; and full-electric steering, brakes and engine systems.
Networking events
In addition to attending educational sessions and networking on the show floor, show attendees got a chance to reconnect with old friends while listening to Cadillac Dave & His Chicago Red Hots at the REI-sponsored Welcome Reception at the Hyatt Regency Chicago's Regency Ballroom. An additional networking reception took 400 attendees to the Upper Terrace Suite at U.S. Cellular Field to watch the Chicago White Sox vs. the Boston Red Sox. A silent auction held during the game, which included autographed baseballs, jerseys and pictures from sports stars past and present, raised more than $12,000 for the Les Turner ALS Foundation.
BusCon will return to Chicago's Navy Pier Sept. 13 to 14, 2011. Visit www.busconexpo.com for more information.
To view more photos from BusCon 2010, click here.
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