BusTalk

csorionv2007 · Age: 48 Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 11 Location: Queens, NY

Since Stengel has received hybrids, I have been taken note that the hybrids have been having lots of problems. Like for example the destination signs, have you notice that the front destination sign looks very dim and sometimes the whole destination sign will be all orange or yellow. The side destination sign will be sometimes be in test mode for example it would have space of dots then have numbers (****1*****2*****3****4****5 etc.) Or the wheel chair ramp won't deploy and will have to be manualy lifted by pulling the string. Or the bus will stall out for example on saturday on the Q12 a hybrid stalled out in the intersection of Northern blvd and Marathon Pkwy going Little Neck bound. That is only one of the couple of reports of stall outs with the hybrid. The hybrids have had problems with the interlocks. Since the MTA ordered the hybrids customer injuries went up due to the breaks.

The Don of All Buses · Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2007 7:30 pm Post subject:

that's not good... not good at all! I guess what they say about cars is also true about buses. They don't make them like they used to.

Q65A · Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2007 8:54 pm Post subject:

The HEV's seem to have some advantages (i.e. lower emissions, reduced brake maintenance costs, fuel savings) but these advantages require expensive hardware and a great deal of complexity.
I'll bet that the MDBF of the HEV's eventually will improve over time as the design becomes more refined, but for a while there probably will be some rough going.
I'll also bet that the RTS's probably had their share of "teething pains" when they were new.

RailBus63 · Moderator Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 1063

pc2871 · Joined: 26 Oct 2007 Posts: 21

I believe these teething problems will be fixed with updates in both hardware and software. Remember the NYCT hybrids are all powered with Lead-Acid Batteries. I would like to if switching out for other types of batteries would remedy the Stall out issue.