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Metropolitan Transportation Authority demonstrator bus fleet

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York) (MTA), in addition to operating its regular fleet of vehicles, has from time to time evaluated demonstrator buses. Below is a roster of previously tested MTA demonstrator buses, usually on loan from the manufacturer.

Current Demonstrator Buses

Fleet number(s) Thumbnail Year Manufacturer Model Engine Transmission Notes

Past Demonstrator Buses

Fleet number(s) Thumbnail Year Manufacturer Model Engine Transmission Notes
1974 MAN SG 192 Demoed on the Culture Bus Loops (M41, B88) and former intra-Manhattan express routes
MCI D4505 Demoed in July 2009
1974 Neoplan N122/3
Skyliner 		Cummins V903 Allison HT-740
1989 BIA Orion I CNG
(01.508) 		Cummins L10G CNG demonstration.
1994 Flxible Metro "D"
(40102-4D) 		Detroit Diesel Series 50
  • Owned by WMATA.
  • Tested on local service in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
1994 Flxible Metro "D"
(40102-4D) 		Detroit Diesel Series 50 Owned by New Jersey Transit (1791), demoed in anticipation of a 50-bus Flxible Metro order which ultimately was never fulfilled
2006 New Flyer Industries D60LF Caterpillar C9 Demoed in 2008
1996 OBI Orion VI HEV
(06.501) 		Cummins B5.9 General Electric
hybrid system
  • NY State Consortium hybrid bus prototype
  • 3 door, tandem rear axles with single powered wheels, NiCd batteries
OBI Orion VI
(06.501) 		All-white demo, visited Jackie Gleason Depot in 1996
2003 Van Hool AG300 Cummins ISM Voith D864.3E
  • Owned by AC Transit.
  • Displayed at the Zerega Training Facility in 2005.
2010 Orion Orion VII EPA10 HEV
(07.501) 		Cummins ISB6.7 BAE Systems HybriDrive
hybrid system
  • Orion "Sales 1."
  • Arrived at the Zerega Training Facility on August 18, 2010 (display only).
0013 2016 New Flyer Industries XDE40 Cummins ISB6.7 BAE HDS 200 hybrid system
  • Used for full-load passenger testing by the MTA in anticipation of the delivery of their first XDE40 buses (9500-9509)
  • Owned by Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (1847), it demoed in MBTA colors February 2017 as it was diverted to NYC while en route to Boston for delivery.
0021 Proterra Catalyst
(BE40) 		All-white demo that tested in non-revenue service in Brooklyn from December 2017 to January 2018 in anticipation/alongside leased Proterras 0016-0020.
0022   2016 ADL Enviro500

'SuperLo'

Cummins ISL9 Allison B500R
  • Arrived on MTA property on April 2018.
  • Tested on Staten Island express routes that run via the Lincoln Tunnel. Only ran on the X17J (Charleston) in the end.
  • Entered service on the X17J on April 30, 2018.
  • 13.8m "SuperLo" demonstrator
  • Blue and white gradient and waves livery
  • Displayed at 2017 APTA Expo
  • VIN: SFEA11111GGN40021
0023   2018 MCI D45 CRT LE Cummins ISX12 Allison B500
  • Arrived on MTA property on June 2018 and left in September 2018 (90 days in service)
  • Scheduled to be tested on Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island express routes.
  • Tested out of Ulmer Park, Charleston, Yukon, Yonkers, and then Eastchester
  • Testing out of Baisley Park was cancelled
0051 2007 Mercedes-Benz Citaro G
(O530G) 		Mercedes-Benz OM
457 hLA Euro IV 		Voith D864.3E Daimler articulated bus concept tested in local service in Manhattan (100th Street/Tuskegee Airmen Depot routes) in 2008.
0052 2008 Prevost Car X3-45 Detroit Diesel Series 60 EGR Allison B500R Tested on Staten Island and Bronx express routes.
0053 2008 Van Hool TD925 Cummins ISM ZF 12AS2301BO
  • 2009 model.
  • Tested on Staten Island and Bronx express routes in 2008.
    • Demoed in Staten Island from September 11th, 2008 to October 8th, 2008
0054 December 2007 Nova Bus LFS Artic Cummins ISL Voith D864.5
0055 2009 Nova Bus LFS Cummins ISL Allison B400R
  • Arrived at the Zerega Training Facility in mid-January 2010.
  • Tested with JFK Depot for 30 days in January to February.
  • Tested with Ulmer Depot for 30 days in February to March.
  • Tested with 126 Street Depot for 30 days in March.
0058 March 2010 NFI XDE40 Cummins ISL9 Allison EP40
hybrid system
  • 2009 model.
  • Dark blue Xcelsior demo.
  • 60 day trial; arrived January 2011. It operated in local service in Brooklyn (Ulmer Park Depot on the B6)
  • Sold to Academy 2192 in August 2015.
0059 June 2011 Nova Bus LFS Artic Cummins ISL9 ZF 6AP1700B
  • 2012 model.
  • Arrived in August 2011.
  • In service between August-October 2011.
  • Sold to Clemson Area Transit 600 in December 2012.
0060 2013 BYD Auto K9 Tested in Manhattan for local service between August-October 2013.
100 1979 Grumman Flxible 870
(53102-8-1) 		Detroit Diesel 8V71 Allison V730 This bus was retained by New York City Transit Authority and renumbered to 199.
200 1978 GMC RTS-03
(TH-8603) 		Detroit Diesel 6V71 Allison V730
  • This was the first New York City Transit Rapid Transit Series (RTS) bus and a prototype for future orders.
  • Demoed in Brooklyn
  • To Spokane Transit Authority 149.
950-951 1981 Hino RC Hino diesel Demoed on local routes in Manhattan
952 1982 Hino RS Hino diesel
  • Larger model with more American features.
  • Demoed on local routes in Manhattan
960-961 1981 Renault PR 100 Renault Demoed on local routes in Manhattan
995 1998 Nova Bus LFS
(40102) 		Detroit Diesel Series 40E Allison B400R Sold to Verreault Transport 458.
1292,
1294-1295 		2007 OBI Orion VII NG HEV
(07.501) 		Cummins ISB BAE HybriDrive
hybrid system
1300-1301 1982 Autobuzul DAC 117 UD
  • Tested by Metropolitan Suburban Bus Authority (later MTA Long Island Bus) in Nassau County.
  • Image of 1301
1822 2006 ElDorado National Transmark RE PHEV 29'
  • Formerly numbered 1800.
  • Tested by MTA Long Island Bus.
3064T 1999 NFI D60LF Detroit Diesel Series 50 Allison B500R
  • Owned by Metro Transit (Bus 3064).
  • Tested in local service in Manhattan in May 2003.
5770 July 2002 Gillig Phantom Hybrid 40' (C19D102N4) Cummins ISB GM-Allison EP40
hybrid system
  • VIN: 15GCD191421111983
  • GM-Allison hybrid demo tested in Manhattan and the Bronx in 2005.
5950 1983 MCI MC-9A Detroit Diesel 6V92TA Allison HT-740
8990 1983 MAN SG-310-16.5-2A MAN D2566 MLUM Renk-Doromat 874B
8991 Volvo B10M Tested in Queens for local service in 1984.
8992 1981 Volvo B10MA Tested between Manhattan and Staten Island for express service.
8993 Prevost Car Marathon
8994 1983 Neoplan USA AN460A Detroit Diesel 8V92TA Allison HT-740
  • Tested between Manhattan and Staten Island for express service in 1984.
  • View the series page for detailed disposition info.
8995-8996   1983 Neoplan USA AN440A Detroit Diesel 6V92TA Allison HT-747
  • Tested in 1984.
  • View the series page for detailed disposition info.
8998-8999 1983 Eagle Model 10-SC Tested between Manhattan and Staten Island for express service.
9255, 9733, 9737, ? 1992 Volvo B58E Volvo
  • Operated a demonstration BRT route for several days in downtown Manhattan for several days stopping at tube-shaped, high-level platforms at South Ferry, World Trade Center, City Hall, and the South Street Seaport
  • Buses were owned by Rede Integrada de Transporte (RIT) of Curitaba, Brazil
  • Two body styles - Marcopolo and Caio
    • 9255 had Marcopolo styling
    • 9733, 9737 had Caio styling
  • 4 total buses, 4th bus possibly 9730?
  • 9255 had license plate ACM6613
  • 44 ft. long
9900 1984 BIA Orion I Suburban
(01.508) 		Detroit Diesel 6V92TA
  • Tested in Staten Island for express bus service.
  • Diverted from an order by CDTA.
  • Later sold to PRTC OmniRide 202.
9900 1998 Nova Bus RTS-06 Hybrid
(T80-206) 		Cummins ISB 5.9L Allison Es
hybrid system 		Hybrid test order.
9900 2007 DesignLine ECOSmart I "Olymbus" Diesel turbine
  • Tested in local service in Manhattan and Queens.
  • Owned by Wachovia Bank
9901 1984 MAN Americana
(SL-40102A) 		MAN D2566 MLUH Renk-Doromat 874B
9902 1985 GMC RTS-06 Suburban
(T8J-206) 		Detroit Diesel 6V92TA Allison V730 Tested in Staten Island for express bus service.
59645D November 2010 MCI D4500CT Cummins ISX11.9 Allison B500R
  • 2011 model.
  • VIN: 1M8PDMBA5BP059654
  • Arrived at the Spring Creek depot in February 2011.
81990 October 1989 BIA Orion V
(05.501) 		Detroit Diesel 6V92TA Allison HTB-748
81992 1985 Neoplan USA AN460A Detroit Diesel 6V92TA Allison HTB-748
  • Originally a diesel/electric trolley dual-mode demo bus before the conversion to diesel-only fuel.
  • Tested in service in Manhattan (M15) in 1992.
81993 1993 Neoplan USA AN440 Suburban Detroit Diesel 6V92TA Tested in Staten Island for express service.
81994 1993 MCI 102-B3 Detroit Diesel 6V92TA
ATTB-3 1998 Northrop Grumman ATTB Cummins CNG Kaman
electric hub motors 		Tested in Brooklyn.
E31 2014 NFI XDE40 Cummins ISL9 Allison H 40 EP
hybrid system 		Tested in Queens in non-revenue service between January-February 2015.
F1997 1997 NFI D40LF Detroit Diesel Series 50
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