TransLink orders 106 New Flyer CNG buses with 2018 Cummins L9N ultra-low NOx engines
21 November 2017
The South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority (TransLink) has awarded New Flyer with a contract for 106 Xcelsior compressed natural gas (CNG) forty-foot, heavy-duty transit buses. The CNG buses will be equipped with 2018 Cummins L9N engines, which provide a significantly reduced carbon footprint supporting TransLink’s planned fleet rejuvenation initiative and vision for increasingly sustainable transit.
The 2018 L9N continues the evolution of lower emitting natural gas engines from Cummins Westport, with the lowest certified Ultra Low NOx emission engines in North America; 90% lower than current North American EPA standards, with a reduction from 0.2 to 0.02g/bhp-hr. (Earlier post.) With 320 hp / 1,000 lb-ft torque and near-zero NOx, the L9N is very suited for urban transit, refuse, and truck applications.
The order was supported by the Federal Gas Tax Fund, through which the Government of Canada provides funding for municipal infrastructure, including public transit. The funds are administered in B.C. by the Union of British Columbia Municipalities.
In October 2017, the Metro Vancouver transit system was named the third-most sustainable transit system in North America by the Arcadis Sustainable Cities Mobility Index, and in the same month, the City of Vancouver committed to purchasing only zero-emission buses by 2025 with a goal to achieve zero-emission status by 2030.
TransLink delivers public transportation services through Coast Mountain Bus Company, British Columbia Rapid Transit Company Ltd. (SkyTrain) and West Coast Express Ltd., across an 1,800 square kilometer area in the Metro Vancouver region. On an average weekday, there are approximately 1.3 million boardings on the TransLink system.
New Flyer Industries Inc. (NFI Group) has more than 85 years of experience manufacturing buses in Canada, and is focused on advancing vehicle innovation through development of Canadian-based intellectual property and removal of barriers to adopting zero-emission vehicles and autonomous driving technologies. The NFI Group has more than 50 years of experience in manufacturing zero-emission buses (ZEBs).
It is North America’s heavy-duty transit bus leader and offers the largest transit bus product line under the brand Xcelsior, incorporating the broadest range of drive systems available, including: clean diesel, natural gas, diesel-electric hybrid, trolley-electric, and battery-electric. NFI Group actively supports more than 44,000 heavy-duty transit buses (New Flyer, NABI, and Orion) currently in service, of which 6,400 are powered by electric and battery propulsion.
An opportunity to purchase/use electrified buses were missed?
Posted by: HarveyD | 21 November 2017 at 06:18 AM
I mean, it's cold in Canada, so maybe they were looking at the waste heat to heat the passenger compartment... But even still, a H2 bus would have been worth while. Strict BEVs might not be the best choice in such adverse weather. A lot of heat would be needed in such a large vehicle.
Maybe they are planning to capture methane from waste streams, making it renewable?
Posted by: CheeseEater88 | 21 November 2017 at 10:30 PM
Leon's e-bus has delivered 25+ light, long lasting, carbon fiber body, large all weather school e-buses, with up to 200+ Km range, depending on battery pack selected.
Production is currently limited to about 4 units/month but could be progressively increased to 12+ units/month to satisfy demands.
Volvo Canada has been working on four (4) e-bus prototypes for the last 4+ years. Mass production should start in 2019 or so for 2000+ units to replace most of the current diesel fleet by 2030 or so..
Posted by: HarveyD | 22 November 2017 at 08:57 AM
There is no reason why these CNG buses can't run on renewable natural gas; https://www.fortisbc.com/NaturalGas/RenewableNaturalGas/Pages/default.aspx
Many of the city's vehicles already do.
Posted by: ai_vin | 26 November 2017 at 12:20 PM