Nova Bus LF Series
| Low Floor Series | |
|---|---|
_demo.jpg)
MTA NovaBus LFS demo
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Nova Bus |
| Assembly | Saint-Eustache, Quebec Plattsburgh |
| Body and chassis | |
| Doors | 2 doors (1 door Suburban/Shuttle) |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | Cummins ULSD ISL 8.9L 280hp Cummins ULSD ISL 8.9L 330hp Cummins Hybrid ISB 6.7L 280hp Cummins Hybrid ISB 8.9L 330hp |
| Transmission | Allison (B400R, B500R, H 40 EP - Hybrid, H 60 EP - Hybrid) ZF (EcoLife 6 speed) Voith D864.5E 4 speed |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 244 in (6.20 m) - 40' 497 in (12.62 m) (Front-Mid 244 in (6.20 m) mad Mid-Rear 253 in (6.43 m)) - 62' |
| Length | 40 ft (12.19 m) 62 ft (18.90 m) - articulated |
| Width | 102 in (2.59 m) |
| Height | 124 in (3.15 m) - ULSD 128 in (3.25 m) - Hybrid (with AC) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Rapid Transit Series (after 2003) |
| Successor | none |
| Low Floor Series HEV | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Nova Bus |
| Assembly | Saint-Eustache, Quebec Plattsburgh |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | Cummins Hybrid ISB 280hp |
| Transmission | Allison EP 40 electric drive system |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 40 ft (12.19 m) |
| Width | 102 in (2.59 m) |
| Height | 128 in (3.25 m) - Hybrid (with AC) |
| Curb weight | 28,220lbs or 12800kg |
The Low Floor Series (LFS) bus is a series of transit buses manufactured by NovaBus for North American customers. After taking over the former GM bus plant in St Eustache, Quebec, from MCI in 1993, Novabus management was invited by the Quebec government to design and produce a low-floor bus similar to a current trend on the European transit market. Novabus chose to adapt the Dutch Den Oudsten Alliance low floor bus for the North American market. A demo bus along with some engineering staff were sent from Holland; however by 1994 Den Oudsten was in financial trouble and was not able to further collaborate with Novabus which in turn had to design a low-floor bus from scratch. It is worth noting that the limited engineering staff that was acquired by Novabus along with the bus plant had never designed a complete bus; the Classic was a cosmetic revision of the GM New Look bus, which had been designed by GM in Detroit in the late 50's.
The first prototype was shown at the APTA show in Boston, fall 1994; full development postponed production until 1996.
In parallel Detroit Diesel had announced that 1994 would be the end of the road for its two stroke diesel engines that had traditionally provided power for North American transit buses since the 50's; the two stroke technology could just not be made to complete with new EPA regulations. While Novabus initial plan was to introduce the low-floor LFS while maintaining the lower cost Classic in production, the initial release of the Cummins powered Classic "T-Drive" in 1995 was underdeveloped and plagued with severe reliability problems. A decision was made to concentrate development resources on the new LFS and to stop producing the Classic as soon as the LFS was in full production.
These events canceled the initial plan to produce a pilot run of 80 LFS to be put in revenue service in 4 major Quebec transit properties, then gather reliability and service data to further refine the design before entering serial production. By the time the first LFS (STCUM 16-004) entered revenue service at the end of 1996, about 400 LFS were already built, awaiting acceptance from the same Quebec properties. Again, these early LFS were plagued with reliability and serviceability problems; but unlike the Cummins powered Classics, the problems were all over the bus and not concentrated on the drivetrain.
Models
The current LF is offered in seven models:
| Model | Length | Type |
|---|---|---|
| LFX | 40-foot (12.19 m) | Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) |
| LFX Articulated | 62-foot (18.90 m) | articulated BRT |
| LFS Smartbus | 40-foot (12.19 m) | standard transit bus with electric cooling |
| LFS Smartbus | 62-foot (18.90 m) | articulated transit bus with electric cooling |
| LFS HEV | 40-foot (12.19 m) | Hybrid Electric Vehicle |
| LFS HEV | 62-foot (18.90 m) | articulated Hybrid Electric Vehicle |
| LFS CNG | 40-foot (12.19 m) | Compressed Natural Gas transit bus |
LFS Shuttle and LFS Suburban are variants outside of the regular products offered. In addition, Nova Bus is working on an electric variant with a multitude of power source options. CNG articulated buses are not offered.[2]
History
The LFS began production in 1995 and since expanded to the current models:[1]
- LFS
- 1st generation 1995-2000: Mild steel space frame construction up to early 1999 then stainless steel; full low floor layout with sloped floor over rear axle; Cummins C8.3 mechanical injection engine, 250 hp (no AC) or 280 hp (with AC) (Detroit Series 40 optional for a brief period); initially Allison B300/B400 transmission only, after 1997 ZF 5HP500 optional. ZF RL-85 front axle with Knorr disc brakes; AV131 rear axle with Perrot drum brakes (Meritor axles with drum brakes optional).
- 2nd generation 2001-2006: Stainless steel space frame construction; full low floor layout with sloped floor over rear axle with optional raised platform with steps at the rear; mild revision of rear end styling; Cummins ISC electronic injection engine (1999-2004) replaced by ISL mid-2004. Allison B300/B400 or ZF 5HP502 transmission; rear axle now AV132. Dinex multiplex electrical system.
- 2,5nd generation 2007-2009 (March): Stainless steel space frame construction; half low floor layout with steps at the rear; Cummins ISL engine; Allison B300/B400, ZF 5HP502/504 transmission or Voith D864.3E transmission; Allison hybrid drive available; Knorr disc brakes now on both axles; multiplex system Volvo VBEA.
- 3rd generation 2009 (April)-2013: engine moved from its lateral location to the centerline of the bus in a "T Drive" arrangement; cooling system moved to the roof of the bus; changes made necessary by the bulky smog control equipments. Transmissions now Allison/ZF Ecolife/Voith D864.5. Floor boards changed from plywood to synthetic honeycomb.
- 4th generation 2013- New interior design; change from hydraulic to electric cooling fans. BAE Hybridrive available from May 2014.
- LFS articulated introduced in production April 2009 with same technology as above. 330 hp engine rating, Allison hybrid available from 2014. Hubner electro-hydraulic articulation.
- LFX 2008-
- LFS HEV 2006- hybrid version, as above
- LFS shuttlebus (LFS 40') 2005-
- LFS Suburban 40' 2005-
- LFS CNG 40' 2013-
Gallery
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MTA LFS 40' demonstrator
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MTA New York City Bus Nova LFX demonstrator 0059.jpg
MTA LFX 62' articulated demonstrator
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MTA LFS 62' articulated
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Bus interior Nova LFS - STLévis 1204-3.jpg
Bus interior of a Nova Bus LFS (2012) in service with the Société de transport de Lévis
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Driving cab Nova LFS - STLévis 1204-1.jpg
Driving cab of a Nova Bus LFS (2012)
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TTC LFS Articulated bus
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Viva 1089 side.jpg
Viva YRT 62' LFX
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2013 Nova Bus LFS HEV demo.jpg
40' LFS HEV model
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MTA 40' LFS
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40' LFS Shuttle
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Toronto transit commission 8401-a.jpg
TTC new LFS buses.
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See also
- GMC New Look - Previous 1960s generation GMC bus
- Flxible Metro - major competitor to the Rapid Transit Series
- Gillig Low Floor - Also available in Suburban Version
- GMC/MCI/NovaBus Classic - Updated version of the New Look, offered as an alternative to the RTS
- Rapid Transit Series
- Toronto Transit Commission fleet
- MTA Regional Bus Operations bus fleet
References
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nova Bus LFS. |
