Cummins to supply engines, particulate filters for hybrid urban buses

18 July 2000

Cummins Engine Co., Inc. has announced it has reached an agreement with Orion Bus Industries and Lockheed Martin Control Systems to supply the diesel engine and particulate filter for the hybrid electric drive system on the 2001 delivery of 125 Orion VII hybrid buses to MTA New York City Transit.

The engine, a modified Cummins ISB-275 with a catalyzed particulate filter developed by Cummins’ subsidiary, Fleetguard/Nelson, will power the hybrid drive system used in the new buses. The combination of these technologies has to meet emission targets of 15 grams per mile (g/mi) NOx and 0.06 g/mi PM, as specified by New York City. This system will be available for urban vehicles with hybrid engine needs up to 275 hp.

Cummins’ participation in the hybrid bus project starts after more than a year of technology demonstration by New York City Transit, which has operated a test fleet of hybrid diesel electric buses since the fall of 1998. Orion Bus Industries, headquartered in Mississauga, ON, Canada, will build the new Orion VII buses in Oriskany, NY.

“Cummins is pleased to join Orion and Lockheed Martin in order to provide the best available technology to our customers,” said John Wall, Cummins Chief Technical Officer. “Our work on this project will expand the use of Cummins power and aftertreatment technologies with low emissions drive system strategies to produce the most reliable products with minimal environmental impact. Cummins is unique in its development of the total system, which includes engines, filtration and aftertreatment components as a complete package for our customers.”

By modifying the ISB engine with a catalyzed soot filter to perform with a hybrid electric drive system, Cummins said it will supply a product that meets emissions requirements equal to or below alternative fueled conventionally equipped vehicles.