Orion Bus Industries 'Orion V'

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Orion V
Orion V
Years of manufacture 1988 to 2009
Length 32 to 40 feet
Width 96 or 102 inches
Propulsion Diesel or CNG

The Orion Bus Industries Orion V was a high floor transit bus available in Canada and the United States. One of the longest running line of buses from Orion, production began in 1989 and ended by the start of 2009. The first order for the Orion V was placed by Mississauga Transit, which took delivery of 25 buses in 1989. The final order for the Orion V was placed by Sonoma County Transit for CNG-powered buses. Westchester County Bee-Line System was the last to order the diesel-powered Orion V, and Coast Mountain Bus Company was the last Canadian agency to order the Orion V.

Design

The Orion V used a mild steel or stainless steel tubular frame. Like its predecessor the Orion I, the Orion V was available in lengths of 30, 35, and 40 feet. While the Orion I was 96 inches wide, the Orion V was wider at 102 inches—though it was also available as a 96-inch wide bus.

The drivetrain was mounted to the rear wheels in a T-drive configuration. The Orion V was one of the earliest models of buses in North America to have compressed natural gas (CNG) as an alternative fuel option. Multiple transit agencies in North America have specified this option. CNG-powered buses can be identified by the large fuel tank housing on the roof.

In the 1990s, the New York State Consortium tasked with development of hybrid-electric buses produced a prototype using the Orion V. It was equipped with a diesel-fueled 190 horsepower 5.9 litre Cummins engine which drove a 100 kilowatt General Electric alternator. The bus had tandem rear axles with IGBT controlled AC wheel motors driving a single wheel per axle end. Nickel-cadmium batteries manufactured by Saft were used for energy storage. Compared with a conventional diesel-powered Orion V with a Detroit Diesel Series 50 engine, the hybrid prototype had 40 percent better fuel economy. [1] The bus was eventually acquired by Mississauga Truck & Bus, where it was parted out.

In addition to the typical transit configuration, the Orion V was available in a suburban/commuter configuration with a single door, reclining seats, and parcel racks.

Other photos

  • Suburban Orion V.
    Suburban Orion V.
  • Interior of a Suburban Orion V.
    Interior of a Suburban Orion V.
  • CNG-powered Orion V.
    CNG-powered Orion V.
  • Transit interior.
    Transit interior.
  • Transit interior with lighting and back panel used 1999 onward.
    Transit interior with lighting and back panel used 1999 onward.
  • 30-foot Orion V.
    30-foot Orion V.

Models

Model number Length
(feet, inches) 		Length
(mm) 		Width
(inches) 		Width
(mm) 		Years available
05.501 40' 8.5" 12,408 102" 2,591 1988-2009
05.502 96" 2,438
05.503 35' 7.5" 10,859
05.504 102" 2,591
05.505 32' 5" 9,881 96" 2,438
05.506 102" 2,591

Specifications

Operators

Canada

Guatemala

Sweden

United States

Demonstrator and engineering Units

Below is a list of known demonstrator and engineering buses.

Fleet number Thumbnail Year VIN Engine Transmission Notes
Dec. 1988 2B1569E74K5030000 Cummins L10
1989 2B1569776K6030040 Detroit Diesel 6V92TA Allison HTB-748
1992 2B1529773N6030903 Detroit Diesel 6V92TA Allison MD 3060
  • 05.504 model
  • Submitted for Altoona testing April-July 1992.
1220A 2003 1VHAH3A2936501957 Cummins ISL-07 ZF HP592C
1225 2007 1VHBH3L2976502582 John Deere 6081H Allison B400R

Preserved units

Year Thumbnail VIN Original Owner Fleet Number Current Owner
1993 2B1569779P6031478 Metropolitan Transportation Authority 93001/101 Metropolitan Transportation Authority
1994 2B1519776R6031858 Lynx 435 Private owner
1996 2B1569K78T6032901 Toronto Transit Commission 9411 Private owner
1996 2B1569K76T6032914 Toronto Transit Commission 9424 Private owner
2000 1VH5H3H27Y6501387 Regional Transportation District 2273 Private owner
2003 1VH5H3A2536502086 Ajax Pickering Transit Authority 2050 Private owner
2003 1VH5H3A2036502092 Cornwall Transit 0359 Private owner
2003 1VH5H3A2236502093 Cornwall Transit 0360 Private owner

References

  1. ↑ TCRP Report 38. Transportation Research Board.
Orion Bus Industries / Orion International
v·d·e
Orion I Orion II Orion III Orion IV Orion V Orion VI Orion VII Orion VII NG Orion VII EPA10
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