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| MTA going green: By filling Nitrogen on tires make buses efficent? (119253) | |||
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MTA going green: By filling Nitrogen on tires make buses efficent? |
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Posted by GOLD_12th on Fri Oct 17 02:44:37 2008 How MTA NYC Transit goes greenMTA New York City Transit Department of Buses has been going green for some time through its incorporation of sustainable technology. Aside from the fact that the NYC Transit fleet of 4,500 buses removes an estimated 180,000 cars from area streets and highways, the agency is at the forefront of technologies and practices to make municipal bus transportation as ecologically benign as possible. MTA New York City Transit Department of Buses has been going green for some time through its incorporation of sustainable technology. Aside from the fact that the NYC Transit fleet of 4,500 buses removes an estimated 180,000 cars from area streets and highways, the agency is at the forefront of technologies and practices to make municipal bus transportation as ecologically benign as possible.  This NYC Transit leads in the introduction and development of hybrid-electric buses, which have proven to run 30 percent cleaner on average than their conventional diesel counterparts. They also are more fuel-efficient with a clear advantage in stop-and-go driving that typifies New York City Transit bus operations. Currently more than 800 hybrid buses operate in New York City streets with another 800 on order and set for delivery. While the hybrid buses are a common sight these days, the technology is still advancing, particularly in the area of storage batteries. The Department of Buses is currently testing a quartet of Orion Hybrid/Electrics with a lithium-ion battery array in place of the lead-acid batteries. The advantages of the lithium batteries include a longer life span, the ability to capture more braking energy and the reduction in periodic battery maintenance. The new lighter battery array also trims about 3,200 pounds off the 4,000-pound weight of the lead-acid batteries. In another move to increase the efficiency of the hybrid buses, the Department of Buses has changed the propulsion management software to dial back the acceleration rate to consume less fuel as the price of oil continues to climb. In the push to create new efficiencies, NYC Transit is even seeking ways to make the tires on buses more efficient. Buses assigned to three depots in Brooklyn now ride on tires filled with nitrogen as part of a pilot program to determine its effectiveness. Nitrogen-filled tires maintain pressure and last longer than air-filled tires. Tires that require less checking and filling cut down on maintenance time. In an agency as large as NYC Transit, we look for improvements in all areas, including the recycling of usable parts culled from buses that are being retired. Joseph Smith, senior vice president, Department of Buses, has taken a hard look at when and how his department disposes of items, as well as what it decides to keep. In the past we had been scrapping our buses intact, but that makes little sense when we are still operating similar vehicles. An item as simple as a bus window costs upwards of $900 apiece. We now remove the windows from scrap buses and reuse as needed. The ultimate recycling effort involves updating bus components to keep the vehicle in service as long as possible. While hybrid-electric vehicles are a growing segment of the fleet, standard diesel engines still power the greater number of NYC Transit buses. Recognizing that diesel engine and clean emissions technology is advancing, the Department of Buses several years ago developed an innovative program that continues to pay benefits. In 2002 the agency began to repower more than 650 older RTS and Orion buses, replacing the two-stroke diesel engines with new, electronically controlled four-stroke engines and combining advanced exhaust-treatment devices. This move has contributed to cleaner air in the region while also prolonging the use of vehicles we normally would have scrapped. This engine swap proved even more effective when NYC Transit became the first large transit agency to power its bus fleet with ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. Many of our advancements are in areas largely out of sight from our customers. Since 1993 the Department of Buses has partnered with the New York Power Authority in a series of comprehensive projects to make the facilities and operations more efficient. Projects at our depot facilities include upgrades to energy efficient lighting, boilers, compressors, fan motors and the installation of rapid roll-up doors. The department finances these projects with the money it saves on energy bills. We are now looking at other segments of our operation to make further improvements. A major program is underway to design efficiencies into new facilities, such as reducing the use of metered water and increasing the recycling effort that focuses on everything from scrap paper to retired buses. As New York City Transit looks deeper into its operations we continually see where we can improve our sustainability effort. While the riding public may not see the changes we are making, the environmental benefits are certainly measurable. The new Grand Avenue Bus Depot and Maintenance Facility is a good example of this new design philosophy. Opened in November 2007, the two-story 560,000 square-foot facility, like all new NYC Transit buildings, takes advantage of high-performance technologies that work to reduce energy consumption and operational costs. The building design includes energy-efficient lighting, high-performance window glazing and an increased use of natural lighting and ventilation. A system that features below grade tanks for rainwater storage captures 85 percent of the water necessary for bus washing and other non-potable uses. A large part of the NYC Transit green initiative involves the recycling of fluids, metals, paper materials and construction debris. We now recycle much that would have found its way a landfill. Source: http://www.busride.com/article.asp?IndexID=1043 BTW, the author of this article is : Howard H. Roberts, Jr., president, MTA New York City Transit, graduated from West Point Military Academy and holds master of public affairs and master of science in civil engineering degrees from Princeton University. Roberts served in the U.S. Army from 1961 to 1981 before beginning his career in transportation with New York City Transit. |
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