A look at some of the buses on display at the APTA Bus & Paratransit Bus Showcase held in Fort Worth, Texas in May. Companies include BYD, CCW, Proterra, New Flyer, ElDorado National and more.
Photos: APTA Bus & Paratransit Bus Showcase
Available in diesel, hybrid and natural gas, the Commuter Coach is strong and durable with a rugged semi-monocoque structure that elevates passengers and drivers above traffic. Options include three-point seat belts, video surveillance and curb lights.
New Flyer's 40-foot Xcelsior.
Available for both public and private operators, the MiDi comes in 30- and 35-foot models and offers passengers excellent accessibility with one or two doors; 1:6 slope wheelchair ramp and greater maneuverability. New Flyer also showcased the 40-foot version of its battery-electric Xcelsior bus.
The all-new 40-foot CATALYST is purpose-built to offer substantial fuel, maintenance and operational savings, while also producing zero emissions. Over the lifetime of the bus, users can save up to $365,000 in fuel versus diesel and up to $135,000 in maintenance costs, according to the company.
The all-new 40-foot CATALYST is purpose-built to offer substantial fuel, maintenance and operational savings, while also producing zero emissions. Over the lifetime of the bus, users can save up to $365,000 in fuel versus diesel and up to $135,000 in maintenance costs, according to the company.
Gillig’s Low Floor CNG bus, available in 29-, 35- and 40-foot lengths, features the Cummins ISL-G engine. Recording a reported 6.01 miles per gallon, the vehicle features anti-skid grading in the aisle and an integrated fuel management panel.
ElDorado’s Axess heavy-duty low-floor bus is available with front and/or center door ADA-compliant wheelchair ramps to meet the most demanding ADA applications. The angled front end provides reduced windshield glare during night operations and wind noise.
The Champion LF Transport with Flexbus technologies is equipped with an electronically controlled air-ride suspension system, Equalizer Ramp, single-slope entry and a 102-inch-wide true flat-floor passenger area. Features include alternative-fuel options, a large passenger side observation window, 225-amp alternator, five-speed automatic transmission, and a single source for warranty suspension and low-floor conversion.
CCW displayed one of IndyGo’s newly remanufactured all-electric buses featuring the ZEPS system. The ZEPS drive system replaces the original drive system on existing traditional diesel buses, resulting in operational savings that benefit the environment. CCW will deliver 21 buses to IndyGo, with delivery already beginning in February.
Q'Straint had a vehicle in the showcase featuring their Quantum and Q'POD solutions.
ARBOC's Spirit of Liberty.
Nova featured its LFS vehicle.
Rosco Vision Systems demonstrated the Vision Quest collision avoidance system, with pedestrian side-sensing, which alerts the driver, visually and audibly when the bus is in motion and a pedestrian or cyclist is in one of the danger zones near the bus.
Prevost’s X3-45 Commuter Coach seats 57 passengers and features a stainless steel integral structure, frameless thermopane side windows, and energy-absorbing bumpers. Offers unparalleled stability and road handling and ease of maintenance.
Unlike many vans that are converted for accessibility, the MV-1 has a side-entry electronic ramp and allows passengers to sit in the front of the vehicle next to the driver, with additional room in back for another wheelchair and extra passengers. Mobility Ventures presented Catholic Charities of Fort Worth with a brand new MV-1 at an event held on Monday in conjunction with the show.
ElDorado’s EZ Rider II
BYD had three buses on display, including the 40-foot model it built for L.A. Metro, which is set to begin service soon. The agency’s board of directors approved a contract with BYD for the manufacture and delivery of up to 25 new all-electric buses as part of a $30 million clean air bus technology pilot project.
BYD's 35-foot all-electric bus.