The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) ordered 26 60-foot BRTs with CNG powerplants from North American Bus Industries (NABI) Inc.

The 60-foot NABIs conceal 10 CNG fuel tanks and the air conditioning units inside the BRT’s ceiling and features air disc brakes on all wheels for superior performance and easier maintenance. The buses, which are powered by 320 HP Cummins powerplants coupled to Allison automatic transmissions with lock-up torque converter and a hydraulic retarder, also feature three doors to help speed boarding and reduce dwell times at stops.

“In

, the Air Resources Board requires transit agencies to pick a ‘fuel path’ that they can get on and stay on.” Said Paul Jablonski, CEO of MTS. “We chose CNG as our fuel path, and have been converting our fleet over from diesel engines. NABI’s BRTs were the only articulated vehicles that met our requirements and offered a CNG option, so it’s a great fit for us.”

All 26 buses are planned for delivery in late September 2008.