 |
BusTalk
A Community Discussing Buses and Bus Operations Worldwide!
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Bill D
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 332
Location: Waterbury, CT
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
RailBus63
Moderator
Joined: 16 Apr 2007
Posts: 1063
|
 Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 10:01 am Post subject: |
 |
|
| As info, UTC Power is based just north of Hartford. I'm guessing these buses also have Carrier air-conditioning units (another UTC affiliate). |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Hart Bus
Age: 74
Joined: 24 Apr 2007
Posts: 1150
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 12:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Perhaps if more of these buses are ordered, they keep the sharp silver livery. The solid dark blue one is a drag. Just my $ 05 (inflation, you know) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
thehartfordboy
Age: 31
Joined: 29 Dec 2008
Posts: 240
Location: Hartford, CT
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 12:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Where's the TwinVision runbox? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
timecruncher
Age: 73
Joined: 23 Dec 2008
Posts: 456
Location: Louisville, Kentucky
|
| Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2010 4:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I'm sure the fueling station is free with the purchase of the bus. What--it isn't?
Another Van Hool. Is FTA selectively applying the "buy American" regulations here and there only when the politicians are not using something expensive like a fuel cell vehicle (about $1 million a copy last time I looked) to blow smoke up our #@* about being 'green' and 'environmentally friendly,' etc.
VTA out in San Jose had three fuel-cell equipped Gillig low floors in their fleet when the Motor Bus Society visited back in 2005. VTA, of late cutting service and raising fares, had to build a very costly fueling station for these critters along with providing some serious 24-hour security for said fueling station.
It made good press for local politicians, I'm sure, but back in 2005 these buses cost a bit over a million apiece. Concern for the environment does not trump this kind of ridiculous expense just to show that something will work if you throw enough dollars at it.
Now the coach quietly sitting behind the first fuel cell bus, ahh now that's an example of when we still knew how to build a bus that carried people where they needed to go. Topic for another thread, another day.
timecruncher |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Bill D
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 332
Location: Waterbury, CT
|
| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 4:22 am Post subject: |
|
|
| RailBus63 wrote: | | As info, UTC Power is based just north of Hartford. I'm guessing these buses also have Carrier air-conditioning units (another UTC affiliate). |
Back in 1997, I had the opportunity to visit UTC Power (then named International Fuel Cell). At that time the company was developing the fuel cell unit for the Georgetown University bus, and had the fuel cell installed in the framework of the rear module of an RTS. We were asked to bring an RTS to the company, so that they could get an idea of how the fuel cell would fit into the bus. That unit was at least twice as large as the fuel cells currently in production, so the development has advanced significantly since then.
| Hart Bus wrote: | | Perhaps if more of these buses are ordered, they keep the sharp silver livery. The solid dark blue one is a drag. Just my $ 05 (inflation, you know) |
One can only hope. I feel the same way about the dark blue paint scheme. The white with yellow, blue and green stripes was much more attractive, and sadly will pretty much disappear when the current new bus order is complete. The silver is also a big improvement, but for the time being most likely will be only used on the fuel cell buses.
| thehartfordboy wrote: | | Where's the TwinVision runbox? |
I'm not sure why the runbox was not included. I did find it interesting that the rear has a full destination sign instead of just a route number display.
| timecruncher wrote: | I'm sure the fueling station is free with the purchase of the bus. What--it isn't?
It made good press for local politicians, I'm sure, but back in 2005 these buses cost a bit over a million apiece. Concern for the environment does not trump this kind of ridiculous expense just to show that something will work if you throw enough dollars at it.
Now the coach quietly sitting behind the first fuel cell bus, ahh now that's an example of when we still knew how to build a bus that carried people where they needed to go. Topic for another thread, another day.
timecruncher |
It sounds like VTA got a bargain, as the Connecticut fuel cell buses have been quoted as costing about $2.5 million apiece. The first fuel cell bus was driven to the UTC plant, several miles north of Hartford, for fueling. A fueling station is being constructed at CT Transit, now that there will be about a half dozen vehicles needing to be serviced.
Even though the expense is significant, I believe that operating the buses in Hartford is a good idea, given that it is so close to UTC. The engineering and design people can have easy access to the buses operating in real world conditions, and the vehicles can easily be returned to the factory for repairs and modifications. The question is, can the cost be brought down enough to make the fuel cell a viable power source for transit fleets? In the meantime, give me a good old smoke belching diesel that can be relied on day in and out! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You can attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group
|
BusTalk Main
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
BusTalk Galleries
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
