Magazine serving the bus and rail transit & motorcoach operations since 1904
Issue link: https://metromag.epubxp.com/i/123617
five questions lowest bid wins; you met the spec, you had the low price and away we go. Now, it is much more detailed — let's call it scientific — where you don't only look at just the capital cost of an acquisition but at all of the costs involved, including maintenance and parts, in the 12 years or so that you are running the vehicle. At times, it is not necessarily the least expensive vehicle that gets you the lowest cost over the 12 years. What trends are you seeing in the vehicle market right now? Will use of natural gas and diesel-electric hybrid powertrains grow? Starting in about 2005, hybrids started to generate significant interest that peaked around 2011. What has transpired is, first, there are a lot of benefits to a hybrid bus, but you can't necessarily run it in all applications; hybrids typically have their benefits in a slower speed operation, but they also come at a cost. The industry has done a very good job of de- ploying hybrid buses. The reliability has been improved and optimized and that sends a real positive message. That said, hybrids are now stabilized at a level that is maybe at 25% of the market. Now, we have natural gas. In the early 90s there was a fair bit of activity for alternative fuels including natural gas. Over the past 20 years, that powertrain option has really stabilized, and from a reliability or an engine standpoint, they have gotten over some of those early challenges with reliability and durability of components. We have also found new ways of getting natural gas out of the ground here in the U.S., and therefore, have seen an increased demand in areas where natural gas is more prevalent, including Pennsylvania, Texas and some of the Midwest. Then, there is also what has been happening in California, where natural gas, in some areas, is being favored due to the activities of the California Air Resources Board. Overall, we are seeing more and more people taking a look at natural gas and examining its use with an understanding of the total cost of ownership, because not only do you need a bus with different systems on it, but you also need a fueling station. For all these reasons, we are seeing natural gas fueled vehicles increasing in demand in the market. The other things playing into decision criteria for rolling stock are things like safety. We are certainly seeing that in the private sector with seat belts and so on. And, as we look at our product from a commuter bus segment, the issue of safety of our product and using a high-floor bus at higher speed on the highways tends to be a more desirable objective than other options. At the same time, transit properties are looking for reliable and stable business partners and all those tie in to what we do at MCI and we are proud to be part of this exciting industry. Underway, Not Under Repair. SMALL BUS HVAC FROM THE BIG BUS EXPERTS ✓ Unmatched Reliability ✓ Superior Capacity ✓ Expert Service & Support www.thermoking.com MAY 2013 mETRO mAGAZINE > 15