Des Moines Area Regional Authority (DART) announced an additional order of 15 Orion VII clean-diesel transit buses from Daimler Buses North America. This order will bring its total order to 20 transit buses for delivery in early 2010.

The Orion VII transit buses provide DART with a cleaner, more efficient diesel engine that incorporates the more stringent 2007 emission standards. The Cummins ISL clean-diesel engine reduces particulate matter by 90 percent and provides further significant reductions in the oxides of nitrogen (NOx). The more environmentally-friendly Orion VII buses also include several design changes that provide greater efficiency and ease of maintenance for DART.

"The order of 20 Orion VII clean-diesel transit buses shows that DART is committed to providing the most modern, clean transit buses to its passengers and communities," said Patrick Scully, chief commercial officer, Daimler Buses North America.

DART, with a fleet of more than 150 buses, operates the largest mass transit service in the state of Iowa, serving the entire metro Capital region including its 19 cities and towns.