LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics)

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LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics)
Posted by Gold_12th on Tue Dec 30 14:12:01 2014 edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d With a faint hum about as loud as a Toyota Prius, 60 feet of transportation history rounds a corner in a Lancaster parking lot. Fresh from a test run on Los Angeles' Metro Orange Line last week, it is the country's first electric articulated bus. "It's an opportunity for there to be a renaissance in public transportation," said James Holtz, fleet sales manager for manufacturer BYD Motors Inc. The bus runs on eight lithium iron phosphate battery modules, four to a side, that provide enough charge for more than 170 miles, Holtz said. In lab tests, the batteries have a life cycle of about 27 years, about twice the life span of an average bus, he said. The bus can hold up to 120 passengers. The zero-emission bus, named the Lancaster after its birthplace at the BYD manufacturing facility, was unveiled in October at the American Public Transportation Assn. Expo in Houston. Its next big appearance was on the Orange Line, where Holtz said the bus was praised for its quietness. Electric buses themselves are not so uncommon. Cities around the country already run these types of buses, including San Antonio, Pomona and the Tri-Cities area in Washington state. Stanford University also operates a 40-foot bus, which was BYD's first U.S. electric bus order. But none of those electric buses bear the accordion-like articulation of L.A.'s extra-long bus. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority has submitted an order for 25 of BYD's 40-foot electric buses, said Brendan Riley, vice president of sales for BYD Motors Inc. But it has not ordered the articulated electric one, which is still being shown around several cities. Gary Spivack, division transportation manager for Metro, said the testing of the articulated electric bus was positive; operators enjoyed driving the bus based on the smooth ride and quiet inside, and passengers enjoyed being in the bus, he said. "It was a successful test," Spivack said. "It's striking in terms of its appearance." He said Metro hasn't made up its mind about ordering the 60-foot bus, saying range is a paramount issue when it comes to any electric bus. "We need something that goes 250 miles a day," Spivack said. The cost for the electric articulated bus is about $1.2 million, Riley said. In contrast, a comparable natural-gas articulated bus sells for $800,000. BYD plans to take the Lancaster up and down the state, from the Bay Area to San Diego, and up the coast, to Portland and areas of Washington, to showcase it, Holtz said. Ultimately, the bus will go to Altoona, Pa., for testing. BYD might be new to the bus manufacturing game in the U.S., but in China, where BYD is headquartered, it has been manufacturing cars for 11 years and buses for at least 5, Holtz said. The company got its start in battery manufacturing, and produces about 30-40% of the world's cellphone batteries, Holtz said. Back in Lancaster, bus operator Peter Balian starts the vehicle with the push of a button and drives around the parking lot of the manufacturing facility. He's only been driving buses for eight months, but he said his previous work driving a tow truck, as well as working at Metrolink, made the transition relatively easy. Balian said he enjoyed driving the large bus. "It has a lot of power," he said, "and it grabs a lot of attention." www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-electric-bus-20141227-story.html
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Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics)
Posted by The Silence on Tue Dec 30 15:23:48 2014, in response to LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics), posted by Gold_12th on Tue Dec 30 14:12:01 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d the Orange line is 18 miles long one way. the range is noted as being "more than 170". so that's only 4 full round trips per charge. how many round trips do the current buses do before they need be refueled?
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Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics)
Posted by RailBus63 on Tue Dec 30 22:32:58 2014, in response to LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics), posted by Gold_12th on Tue Dec 30 14:12:01 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Sharp looking bus - much more handsome IMO than the 40-foot coach that's been demonstrated in various cities.
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Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics)
Posted by WillD on Thu Jan 1 08:55:07 2015, in response to Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics), posted by The Silence on Tue Dec 30 15:23:48 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d The Orange Line, and other private ROW BRT systems are ideal for the installation of quick chargers at station stops or even just at the terminals. Giving the bus a quick charge on each trip can greatly increase the range, to the point where it'll run longer than a comparable diesel or CNG bus. Admittedly it doesn't make sense to do it for one demo bus, but it's a possibility for the future. Now if they could just lay some rails they'd have some actual transit rather than a child's playtoy.
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Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics)
Posted by Dan Lawrence on Thu Jan 8 21:48:14 2015, in response to Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics), posted by RailBus63 on Tue Dec 30 22:32:58 2014. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Electric buses beats diesel buses every day!!!! So do streetcars or Trackless trolleys !!!
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Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics)
Posted by TerrapiN StatioN on Thu Jan 8 22:01:16 2015, in response to Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics), posted by Dan Lawrence on Thu Jan 8 21:48:14 2015. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Electric buses beats diesel buses every day!!!! WADL
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Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics)
Posted by Dan Lawrence on Thu Jan 8 22:24:27 2015, in response to Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics), posted by TerrapiN StatioN on Thu Jan 8 22:01:16 2015. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d You are still wrong. What I wrote was "Electric buses beats diesel buses every day!!!!"
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Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics)
Posted by TerrapiN StatioN on Thu Jan 8 23:39:21 2015, in response to Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics), posted by Dan Lawrence on Thu Jan 8 22:24:27 2015. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d You are still wrong. WADL. No, I was never wrong to begin with. What I wrote was "Electric buses beats diesel buses every day!!!!" Correct, that is the wrong statement that you wrote. You were wrong.
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Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics)
Posted by The Silence on Sat Jan 10 01:45:09 2015, in response to Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics), posted by Dan Lawrence on Thu Jan 8 22:24:27 2015. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Yes but that statement is wrong. They do not beat them "every day." Everything is circumstance based. Streetcars and trackless trolleys incur infrastructure costs diesel buses don't. They also put an extra cost to service expansion. The most vital component of a battery electric bus, the battery, has a lifespan much shorter than the bus it's installed in. Getting roughly half the bus's usable life out of a current battery would be an amazing accomplishment. You don't need to change out a Internal combustion powered bus' engine and fuel tank every 5 to 7 years... Fuel cell buses do not have the production, storage, and fueling infrastructure to be rolled out on a large scale system like NYCTA or LAMTA. A smaller transit agency might not have the funds to apply any of these techs without a big freaking chunk of outside support, but diesel fuel is easy to get. Would you expect, say Oneonta NY's bus system to have the same needs and wants as the MTA?
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Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics)
Posted by Dan Lawrence on Tue Jan 27 22:42:50 2015, in response to Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics), posted by TerrapiN StatioN on Thu Jan 8 23:39:21 2015. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d I was not wrong. What I wrote was "Electric buses beats diesel buses every day!!!!" You were wrong and what that was incorrect! Diesel buses have exause, Electric buses do not!!!!
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Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics)
Posted by TerrapiN StatioN on Tue Jan 27 23:11:05 2015, in response to Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics), posted by Dan Lawrence on Tue Jan 27 22:42:50 2015. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Diesel buses have exause, Electric buses do not!!!! Doesn't mean electric buses beat diesel buses every day.
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Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics)
Posted by Dan Lawrence on Mon Feb 2 21:32:52 2015, in response to Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics), posted by TerrapiN StatioN on Tue Jan 27 23:11:05 2015. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d It does work. Since electric buses have NO exhaust, they beat diesel buses since they have exhaust!!!!
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Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics)
Posted by The Silence on Mon Feb 2 22:46:55 2015, in response to Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics), posted by Dan Lawrence on Mon Feb 2 21:32:52 2015. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d electric buses do have exhausts. Aside from the fact they still expel heat from their motors, the electricity has to come from somewhere. Unless that all comes from a renewable source, then there is still some form of fossil fuel combustion going on. that's the paradox of electric vehicles.
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Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics)
Posted by Spider-Pig on Tue Feb 3 09:37:08 2015, in response to Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics), posted by The Silence on Mon Feb 2 22:46:55 2015. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d They could come from nuclear, which has no exhaust but is not "renewable."
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Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics)
Posted by Terrapin Station on Tue Feb 3 13:11:59 2015, in response to Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics), posted by Dan Lawrence on Mon Feb 2 21:32:52 2015. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d It does work. Since electric buses have NO exhaust, they beat diesel buses since they have exhaust!!!! Just because they have no exhaust doesn't mean they "beat" diesel buses.
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Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics)
Posted by Dan Lawrence on Fri Feb 6 19:45:23 2015, in response to Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics), posted by Terrapin Station on Tue Feb 3 13:11:59 2015. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d It does work. Since electric buses have NO exhaust, they beat diesel buses since they have exhaust!!!!
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Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics)
Posted by Dan Lawrence on Fri Feb 6 19:54:31 2015, in response to Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics), posted by The Silence on Mon Feb 2 22:46:55 2015. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Electric buses use either batteries or use overhead trolley wires.
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Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics)
Posted by The Silence on Sat Feb 7 10:46:27 2015, in response to Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics), posted by Dan Lawrence on Fri Feb 6 19:54:31 2015. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Like I said before, that power has to come from somewhere. It doesn't just show up, and if it's generated by non-renewable means, then there are waste products.
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Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics)
Posted by Spider-Pig on Sat Feb 7 13:23:06 2015, in response to Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics), posted by The Silence on Sat Feb 7 10:46:27 2015. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d "Renewables" have waste products too. The absence of waste products is not what makes something renewable.
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Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics)
Posted by The Silence on Sat Feb 7 21:48:24 2015, in response to Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics), posted by Spider-Pig on Sat Feb 7 13:23:06 2015. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d not helping...
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Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics)
Posted by Terrapin Station on Sun Feb 8 17:19:45 2015, in response to Re: LACMTA is testing a BYD all electric articulated bus on the Orange Line BRT (pics), posted by Dan Lawrence on Fri Feb 6 19:45:23 2015. edf40wrjww2msgDetailB:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d You never originally said that exhaust was the single criteria.
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