Puff, Puff...Gas!

 
 
 
Today's feature is about the wonderful world of Compressed Natural Gas buses.
 
 
CNG technology has long been a major player in transportation. Many systems in America and a few in Canada has embraced the technology, some going as far as converting their fleet to fully CNG. Here I will share some of the photos I have taken of CNG buses throughout the years.
 
 
 
 New York City purchased 190 C40LF in 1999-2000. They were retired in 2013.
 
Before them, NYCT brought 30 Orion V CNGs and had two RTSs before that.
 
Even the private lines had them...the rare roof mounted RTS CNG

The south loves CNG as well. Atlanta is becoming all CNG. This one is from 2007. 

They bought cute C30LFs years earlier.

In-between New Flyer orders was this batch from Orion. Among the first Orion VII CNGs built.
 Boston bought 299 NABIs in 2002 and 2003. They have a few more years before retirement.

New Flyer produced 16 test CNG buses for Boston a few years before the NABI order. 

Neoplan was one of the first US manufacturers to offer CNG articulated buses. 

Washington D.C's system, Metrobus is another large purchaser of CNG buses. 164 C40LFs arrived in 2001-2002

A smaller order arrived in 2006 as C40LF (Restyled)
 
At the same time, WMATA took delivery of 185 Orion VII CNGs
 
 Las Vegas is another system converting to CNG. Here a newer C40LFR is pictured on an express route

New Flyer caved and started building CNG artics well after NABI and Neoplan with their Xcelsior model. These are slated for BRT lines. 

Our neighbors to the north also latched onto the CNG craze. Vancouver is one of a handful of systems with CNG buses.  

Smaller systems also operate CNG buses. Pierce Transit in Tacoma was all CNG until recently
 


Hamilton, Ontario was one of four systems that operated CNG Orion VIs. All are retired. 
 
Southern California is all about CNG, including this early model C40HF in San Diego

A pair of older C40LFs on their last legs now

NABI was more successful than Neoplan in mass producing CNG articulated buses. San Diego MTS has about 30 in service
 
San Diego wasn't the only ones with C40HFs. Los Angeles Metro purchased 223 in 1999-2000. All are retired

Between the two, both models account for nearly 1200 buses. The C40LF below is being phased out with delivery of Xcelsior CNGs. The NABI above still has a few years. 

Los Angeles also purchased several hundred NABI CNG artics. 

NABI supplied this 45 foot version is a lot of nearly 650 large 

Another cutie, this one with a rear door unlike the C30LF above

After a bad batch of Methanol RTSs, Metro started the road of CNG dominance with over 600 Neoplans between 1995 & 1998

Recently Gillig got into the CNG game with a hand from Santa Monica Big Blue Bus

Culver City got the ball rolling for the Xcelsiors with this purchase in 2012

Foothill Transit is another SoCal agency with a CNG fetish

Gardena, Long Beach, and San Diego are among the few systems that operate CNG hybrids. 

Los Angeles DOT purchased CNG MCI to replace CNG Neoplans and other diesel buses in their fleet.
 
 
Hoped you enjoyed. Next stop...The history of Metro Transit Archives Part III


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