Diesel is the predominant technology powering public transit, school, and intercity bus services nationwide because of its safety, reliability, efficiency, durability, and now near-zero emissions.
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With a full lineup of engines providing 200 to 380 hp, whether natural gas or diesel, Cummins has the solution for your transit authority.
Propulsion. The most common power source since the 1920s has been the diesel engine. Early buses, known as trolleybuses, were powered by electricity supplied from overhead lines.
The Blue Bird school bus manufacturer has committed its lineup of yellow young human-haulers to a new engine: the 7.3-liter gasoline V8 found in the 2021 Ford Super Duty. That's more displacement than the outgoing model, but it's the finer details that should help keep these new buses running for generations to come.
Over the long haul, newer diesel engines will last 15-20 years in a fleet, while a gasoline engine may need to be replaced once or even twice during the life of a school bus. “All of these are important for fleet managers to stop and consider when choosing a new school bus,” says Hedgecock.
My rule of thumb when I was shopping for a bus was a well maintained gas bus with under 100,000 miles or a well maintained diesel bus with under 200,000. In theory, a well maintained diesel engine can practically run forever. I drive city buses. They often have multiple million miles before they retire them.
All London buses are automatic, and I have never driven an automatic vehicle before. The bus moves forward as the brake is released. It's enough to fluster this rookie driver — and that's before we get to the 10 metres of omnibus trailing behind my seat.