Dayton NexGen Dual-Mode Trolleys
Dayton's new generation (the fifth) of 45 trolleybuses have fully delivered. There are multiple manufacturers involved in the production.
There are four "demonstrator" buses, 1401-1404, which were used to evaluate different technologies for the production fleet of 41 buses.
These demonstrators were delivered in Fall/Winter 2014.
The demonstrators are built on a 40ft Gillig BRT CNG bus shell (that is, a bus without power plant, also known as a glider),
which has a strengthened roof to accommodate additional control equipment and trolley poles.
The demonstrator electrical system and overall project management was performed by Vossloh-Kiepe,
and modification of the buses was performed by Complete Coach Works in Riverside CA. The builder plates for
these buses say "Vossloh-Kiepe"
1401-1402. Powered by a Cummins diesel mated to a 600V DC generator or 600V DC overhead power mated
to an inverter to provide AC power to run a three-phase AC motor. The diesel fans among you might think,
"hey that sounds a lot like a diesel electric locomotive." And you'd be right -- specifically the
60 EMD FL9s built in the 1950s for the New Haven which served into the 21st Century on Metro-North,
which were designed for diesel or third-rail operation. The bus is limited in its off-wire distance
by the amount of diesel fuel it carries. This bus design was not chosen for the production fleet.
1403-1404. Instead of the Cummins diesel, a large lithium-titanate battery pack is installed in the engine cradle,
with the electric running gear substantially the same. The off-wire operation is estimated at approximately 15 miles.
This design, with several changes to improve operability, was selected for the production configuration
The production fleet is composed of 1951-1971 and 2051-2070. The same Gillig 40ft BRT LNG glider was used, and Kiepe Electric
finished out the electrical and systems installation. The builder plates for these buses say "Kiepe Electric." All buses have been
delivered and are in revenue service as of September 2020.
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