RIVERSIDE, CA — Complete Coach Works (CCW) is excited to announce that Metro McAllen (McAllen) of McAllen, Texas, has been given the Transit Innovation Award by the Texas Transit Association during its 2016 Conference and Expo held in Waco, Texas.
During the April 26th Awards Luncheon, McAllen was recognized as a Texas transit agency leading standards in technological advancements, and in particular, its turn toward electric vehicles with the recent purchase of two CCW Zero Emission Propulsion System (ZEPS) buses.
The ZEPS buses are remanufactured, all-electric, battery plug-in buses, capable of a range of 150 miles on a single charge. The ZEPS system creates significant carbon savings by eliminating activities involved in manufacturing a new bus, as well as reducing the cost of maintenance and fuel. The McAllen all-electric buses are a collaboration between CCW and Wireless Advanced Vehicle Electrification (WAVE) to create a bus that would not only be environmentally friendly, but also effective for public transit use. WAVE technology transfers power through the air, from an embedded charging pad placed in the pavement, to the bus’s undercarriage 7 to 8 inches above the pad, minimizing the need for on-board power storage.
“It’s an honor to be a part of McAllen’s recognition as they shift toward a greener fleet,” said Dale Carson, President of CCW.
Transit Director of McAllen, Mario Delgado, stated it is “very rewarding when your agency is acknowledged by your colleagues and peers in the industry for the hard work and dedication to transit.” Delgado concluded, “We are excited to see how the technology performs and gets further developed, not only for the implications it has for the City of McAllen, but for the entire transportation industry moving forward.”
Carson mentioned that the award is significant because it “acknowledges that the transit industry is heading toward a more environmentally-conscious direction and we are proud to have assisted McAllen with this achievement.”
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Complete Coach Works (CCW) is the largest U.S. bus remanufacturing and rehabilitation company and the leading provider of a vast array of transportation solutions with over 28 years of dedicated service in the transportation industry. CCW is a pioneer in the business and strives to continually provide cleaner air through innovative design and engineering, resulting in the world’s first and only remanufactured all-electric battery powered bus. Developed and integrated by CCW, the Zero Emission Propulsion System (ZEPS) technology provides customers a highly cost-effective alternative to green transportation, potentially revolutionizing the transportation industry while supporting the environment for future generations. Regardless of how small or large the job, CCW provides an exceptionally experienced team of over 350 experts, committed to customer service and satisfaction.
The City of McAllen’s Transit Department (McAllen) was created in 2001 in order to manage and maintain Central Station, the City’s International Transit Terminal Facility. Metro McAllen currently operates seven (7) intercity bus routes and a paratransit bus service for eligible patrons. The bus system hubs out of the downtown terminal facility where passengers can connect to an array of international, national, regional and intercity destinations. The bus service days of operation are Monday through Saturday.
WAVE (Wireless Advanced Vehicle Electrification) is a technology company based in Utah that develops high power wireless charging solutions for electric vehicles including transit and shuttle buses, fleet vehicles, streetcars, and off-road industrial vehicles. WAVE tackles the problem of heavy and expensive vehicle batteries through wireless power, transferring electricity between vehicle and roadway.
RIVERSIDE, CA — Complete Coach Works (CCW) is pleased to announce it has finished the repainting of 56 of Foothill Transit’s buses. The San Gabriel Valley based transit agency engaged the services of CCW in rebranding 56 of their older buses with their new livery to showcase the agency’s commitment to the environment and sustainable operations.
Kevin O’Brien, Project Manager for CCW, said Foothill is “rebranding their fleet with more vibrant colors and graphics. They’re really happy with the project and impressed with the quality of the paint.”
The 42-foot-long CNG buses were previously wrapped with graphics and the agency chose to move forward with painted graphics. The new paint has a 92 gloss factor, which gives it a much brighter shine.
“The previous logo featured three stripes in three shades of blue that rose into three peaks in the center – a nod to the agency’s proximity to the San Gabriel Mountains,” said Roland Cordero, Director of Maintenance and Vehicle Technology at Foothill Transit. “The painted livery is more vibrant and has a clear coat, creating a nice sheen to it.”
The new design is a wave of bright blue and lime green that swoops along the side of the white buses, with blue peaks that rise up at the vehicles’ mid-point.
Cordero said he is pleased with CCW’s paint and mechanic expertise. He concluded, “The new design incorporates our commitment to sustainability and being green.”
Complete Coach Works (CCW) is the largest U.S. bus remanufacturing and rehabilitation company and the leading provider of a vast array of transportation solutions with over 28 years of dedicated service in the transportation industry. CCW is a pioneer in the business and strives to continually provide cleaner air through innovative design and engineering, resulting in the world’s first and only remanufactured all-electric battery powered bus. Developed and integrated by CCW, the Zero Emission Propulsion System (ZEPS) technology provides customers a highly cost effective alternative to green transportation, potentially revolutionizing the transportation industry while supporting the environment for future generations. Regardless of how small or large the job, CCW provides an exceptionally experienced team of over 350 experts, committed to customer service and satisfaction
Foothill Transit is the largest municipal transit operator in Los Angeles County, second only in size to regional provider Metro. Foothill has 315 buses powered by compressed natural gas and 15 that are fast-charge electric. The agency operates on 36 local and express routes that serve 327 square miles of the San Gabriel and Pomona Valley. Ridership is more than 48,000 a week, or approximately 14 million a year.
RIVERSIDE, CA – Complete Coach Works (CCW) is pleased to announce that it has delivered the final bus for a project to replace CNG engines on seven buses for Yolo County Transportation District, which serves Yolo County, downtown Sacramento and Sacramento International Airport.
“The project will extend the service life of the buses and further reduce engine emissions,” said Kevin O’Brien, General Sales Manager for CCW.
“Work began in September and the final bus was completed in March,” O’Brien said. Remanufactured transmissions and electronic fan engine cooling systems were also installed.
“We took buses that were approaching the end of their useful lives and reconditioned them,” shared O’Brien. “The newer engines are cleaner, so they cut down on pollution, and it’s a cost-effective solution for the agency.”
Terry Bassett, Executive Director at Yolo, said “The new engines will keep the buses operating for at least six to eight more years. We hope this will help bridge some of our funding gaps for meeting some of our bus replacement needs as well as reduce greenhouse gases.”
“The project also included replacing the CNG tanks on the buses,” states Bassett. “That’s equally important because we have to have tanks that at least match the lifespan of the improvements that are being made to the engines.”
“In 1993, the Yolo district became one of the first transit agencies to adopt CNG technology. The CNG engines are among the lowest-emission engines available in the industry,” said Bassett.
The project will allow Yolo to continue on its path of providing a cleaner transportation system to its community.
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Complete Coach Works (CCW) is the largest U.S. bus remanufacturing and rehabilitation company and the leading provider of a vast array of transportation solutions with over 28 years of dedicated service in the transportation industry. CCW a pioneer in the business and strives to continually provide cleaner air through innovative design and engineering, resulting in the world’s first and only remanufactured all-electric battery powered bus. Developed and integrated by CCW, the Zero Emission Propulsion System (ZEPS) technology provides customers a highly cost effective alternative to green transportation, potentially revolutionizing the transportation industry while supporting the environment for future generations. Regardless of how small or large the job, CCW provides an exceptionally experienced team of over 350 experts, committed to customer service and satisfaction
Yolo County Transportation District (YOLOBUS) operates local and intercity bus service year-round, serving Davis, West Sacramento, Winters, Woodland, downtown Sacramento, Sacramento International Airport, Cache Creek Casino Resort, Esparto, Madison, Dunnigan and Knights Landing. YOLOBUS makes connections with other local public transportation systems. The district operates 44 transit-size coaches powered by CNG, six highway coaches that run on clean diesel and 10 cutaway buses and vans that primarily serve the frail, elderly and disabled.
Urban transit buses represent a prime opportunity for electrification. Their typical duty cycles allow them to be conveniently recharged at terminals, and the savings on fuel and maintenance can be enormous. Furthermore, cities around the world are revitalizing and beautifying their downtown districts, so getting rid of noise and diesel smoke is a welcome benefit.
Battery-electric buses are operating in pilot programs in dozens of cities in North America, Europe and Asia, and in EV hotspots such as California and China, they’re already being phased into regular service.
However, municipal transit authorities face the same dilemma that individual car buyers do: while an EV may save a lot of money over its lifetime, the purchase price can be almost double that of a legacy vehicle. Fortunately, there’s an elegant solution.
Complete Coach Works (CCW), founded in 1986, is one of the country’s largest remanufacturers of transit buses. The California company is now offering remanufactured buses with electric drive at prices comparable to new diesel buses, with the additional environmental benefit of recycling the chassis and many of the parts.
There are several reasons that a transit agency might choose to remanufacture vehicles, from replacing worn-out engines to modernizing older buses with new technology, such as accessibility features to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act. These days, a growing number of transit authorities are remanufacturing buses in order to upgrade legacy diesel drivetrains to more modern options.
CCW’s Zero Emission Propulsion System (ZEPS) battery-electric buses fit the bill perfectly. Charged recently spoke with ZEPS Sales Manager Ryne Shetterly about the advantages of taking the remanufacturing route.
“We really like to stick to our model of sustainability,” says Shetterly. “By remanufacturing vehicles that are already in service, or that have already gone through a useful life period, we’re saving about ten times of raw materials, and that’s something that we take great pride in. It’s having a big impact on the environment. We’re re-using chassis that are in perfectly good working condition.”
CCW built its first prototype ZEPS bus about five years ago, and now has electric buses in operation in about half a dozen US cities, with several more on order. CCW’s biggest order to date (and the largest fleet of electric transit buses in the country) consists of 21 buses it sold to the Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation (IndyGo), which operates approximately 157 buses on 31 routes in Indiana’s capital.
“A lot of people are looking at that project as kind of the indicator of success,” says Shetterly. “For us to actually execute and deliver a successful project like that has really heightened interest, and we’re getting calls from all over the country.”
CCW remanufactures a lot of Gillig, New Flyer and Orion buses, but it works with anything and everything in the transit world. The team has worked with other alternative fuels in the past, including LNG, CNG, and “clean diesel” technologies. “We installed one of the first hybrid packages that was available way back in the day,” says Shetterly, “but that’s not a viable option anymore. We’re always trying to stay on the cutting edge of clean technology, but now we’re all in on electric.”
Shetterly wouldn’t say exactly what percentage of CCW’s business the electric buses represent, but said that it is “a healthy portion…and we do see it being a much larger portion of what we do in the future.”
An offer cities can’t refuse
The cost of a remanufactured battery-electric bus is in the neighborhood of what a new diesel bus would cost with all the options, Shetterly tells us. “We’re coming in at about $580,000. That’s about $200,000-$300,000 less than a brand-new electric bus from one of the OEMs that are currently in production.”
Savings on fuel and maintenance are expected to add up to about $440,000 over the useful life of the bus.
The ZEPS on-board charger (100 amp, 50 kW), is designed to require no special charging infrastructure beyond 480-volt, 3-phase electrical service, which would normally be installed at an overnight depot.
Some transit authorities send CCW their buses to be completely refitted, an option that is not only cheaper, but faster than buying new vehicles. “You can go buy a brand-new bus for X amount of dollars, or you can come to CCW and spend a fraction of that, and have a bus in six months, versus the standard 18-24 month lead time that you see with the OEMs.”
Another advantage of a remanufactured bus is that many of the components are already familiar to maintenance staff. “We’re taking a bus that has been on property for the last ten years or so, and the maintenance team is already familiar with how to take care of the preventive maintenance,” says Shetterly. “None of the parts are going to change, so there’s not going to be any new parts inventory required. The drivers are already familiar with the buses. We keep the OEM build as close as possible to where it was when it came off the line. We rebuild what we can rebuild – obviously some of the essential parts get swapped out for the electrical components, but mostly everything is going to stay the same.”
“The fact that it’s a refurbished bus with a chassis we currently operate in our fleet makes it practical in terms of interchangeability of parts – it’s a great benefit to us,” agrees Mario Delgado, Transit Director of McAllen, Texas, which bought two ZEPS buses. “The response from the drivers so far has been very good. They are excited about how quiet and smooth the ride is.”
The rebirth of a bus
The transformation of a bus begins by dismantling it down to the chassis level. The diesel engine, transmission, radiator and belt-driven accessories are removed, and the differential is remanufactured to a taller gear ratio of 6.1 from the existing ratio of 5.4. Shock absorbers, air bags, tie rod ends and wheel hubs are replaced with new parts. New composite flooring, seating, an electric air compressor and a power steering pump are installed.
Several upgrades help to maximize the vehicle’s operating range, including lightweight flooring and seats, lightweight aluminum wheels, low rolling-resistance tires, energy-efficient heating and cooling, and LED lighting.
The ZEPS bus has a 131 kW liquid-cooled electric motor. “The torque on it is just absolutely amazing,” says Shetterly. “You’re looking at about 1800 pounds of torque. So, it’s great for pulling grades – it operates really well on an intercity route, where there’s a lot of start and stop.”
CCW uses Samsung lithium-ion battery cells, and offers a couple of range options. The standard pack has 311 kWh of energy storage (250 usable), which delivers a range of about 150 miles. It also offers a half-pack option: a 154 kW hour pack coupled with WAVE inductive charging technology (see sidebar).
Battery-electric technology is not suitable for every bus route. “You’ve got some transit buses doing 300 miles a day,” says Shetterly. “Right now, there’s really not an electric bus that will meet those needs. But with the progression in technology, and where the market is heading, it may be something that’s available in the not too distant future.”
RIVERSIDE, CA — Complete Coach Works (CCW) is pleased to announce it has completed the replacement of forward-facing flip seats with safety barriers on 171 buses of Foothill Transit’s buses. Foothill Transit is the premier provider of public transit services in the San Gabriel Valley, just east of Los Angeles, California.
The work was strongly recommended by the bus manufacturer after it became clear that passengers sitting in forward-facing flip seats with no barriers in front of them could be thrown forward and injured if the driver had to brake hard or make an evasive maneuver.
Some transit agencies have opted to address the issue by locking the flip seats in the up position so they cannot be used, while others have had them taken out.
“Foothill has opted to remove the seats and install the barriers. It is not the most affordable route, but it is the safest option for their riders.” said Kevin O’Brien, General Sales Manager for CCW.
Roland Cordero, Foothill Transit’s Director of Maintenance and Vehicle Technology, said his agency is having the work done on all 171 buses, even though some of them are due to be retired within a year and a half.
“We still have to provide safety to our customers, whether we’re going to be replacing these buses or not,” Cordero said.
“Foothill Transit has contracted a number of projects with CCW and has been pleased with the work that has been done,” shared Cordero. “They have the knowledge, the expertise and the experience. They are very quick to respond and correct issues. We’re happy with their performance and service.”
Complete Coach Works (CCW) is the largest U.S. bus remanufacturing and rehabilitation company and the leading provider of a vast array of transportation solutions with over 28 years of dedicated service in the transportation industry. CCW a pioneer in the business and strives to continually provide cleaner air through innovative design and engineering, resulting in the world’s first and only remanufactured all-electric battery powered bus. Developed and integrated by CCW, the Zero Emission Propulsion System (ZEPS) technology provides customers a highly cost effective alternative to green transportation, potentially revolutionizing the transportation industry while supporting the environment for future generations. Regardless of how small or large the job, CCW provides an exceptionally experienced team of over 350 experts, committed to customer service and satisfaction
Foothill Transit is the largest municipal transit operator in Los Angeles County, second only in size to regional provider Metro. Foothill has 315 buses powered by compressed natural gas and 15 that are fast-charge electric. The agency operates on 36 local and express routes that serve 327 square miles of the San Gabriel and Pomona Valley. Ridership is more than 48,000 a week, or approximately 14 million a year.
RIVERSIDE, CA — Complete Coach Works (CCW) is pleased to announce it has delivered two Zero Emission Propulsion System (ZEPS) buses that include a wireless charging system provided by Wireless Advanced Vehicle Electrification (WAVE) to the City of McAllen’s Transit Department, Metro McAllen (McAllen).
“We are excited about the project, it will be a great benefit to our community and it’s going to be a project that will potentially help advance ZEPS, a product that can revolutionize the industry,” shared Mario Delgado, Transit Director for McAllen.
The ZEPS powered buses create significant carbon savings by eliminating activities involved in manufacturing a new bus. The rehabbed buses cost a fraction of what a new all-electric bus would cost, helping minimize budget and environmental impact.
Delgado states, “The fact that it’s a refurbished bus with a chassis we currently operate in our fleet makes it practical in terms of interchangeability of parts, it’s a great benefit to us. The ZEPS bus produces zero emissions; it’s all around better for the environment.”
The two ZEPS buses will reduce the cost of maintenance and fuel, and are also five feet longer than the current buses in the McAllen fleet, permitting a larger capacity limit.
“The response from the drivers and those that have looked at it so far has been very good. They are excited about how quiet and smooth the ride is, it’s a different tune,” mentioned Delgado.
McAllen will have a rollout ceremony on January 28, 2016 at 10:00am at the McAllen Bus Terminal located at 1501 W. Highway 83.
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Complete Coach Works (CCW) is the largest U.S. bus remanufacturing and rehabilitation company and the leading provider of a vast array of transportation solutions with over 28 years of dedicated service in the transportation industry. CCW is a pioneer in the business and strives to continually provide cleaner air through innovative design and engineering, resulting in the world’s first and only remanufactured all-electric battery powered bus. Developed and integrated by CCW, the Zero Emission Propulsion System (ZEPS) technology provides customers a highly cost effective alternative to green transportation, potentially revolutionizing the transportation industry while supporting the environment for future generations. Regardless of how small or large the job, CCW provides an exceptionally experienced team of over 350 experts, committed to customer service and satisfaction.
The City of McAllen’s Transit Department (McAllen) was created in 2001 in order to manage and maintain Central Station, the City’s International Transit Terminal Facility. Metro McAllen currently operates seven (7) intercity bus routes and a paratransit bus service for eligible patrons. The bus system hubs out of the downtown terminal facility where passengers can connect to an array of international, national, regional and intercity destinations. The bus service days of operation are Monday through Saturday.
WAVE (Wireless Advanced Vehicle Electrification) is a technology company based in Utah that develops high power wireless charging solutions for electric vehicles including transit and shuttle buses, fleet vehicles, streetcars, and off-road industrial vehicles. WAVE tackles the problem of heavy and expensive vehicle batteries through wireless power, transferring electricity between vehicle and roadway.
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