Gasoline Vision

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Blue Bird Body Company submitted a model Gasoline Vision, gasoline-powered 72 seat (including the driver) 39-foot bus, for a partial STURAA test in the 10 yr/3500,000 mile category.  The Federal Transit Administration determined that the following tests would be performed; 4.1 Performance Test, 6. Fuel Economy Test, 7.1 Interior Noise Test (Conditions 2 & 3), 7.2 Exterior Noise Test (Conditions 1 & 2) and 8. Emissions. The odometer reading at the time of delivery was 9,704 miles.  Testing started on March 6, 2017 and was completed on May 18, 2017.  The Check-In section of the report provides a description of the bus and specifies its major components.

The interior of the bus is configured with seating for 72 passengers including the driver.  This test bus is not designed to accommodate standing passengers.  At 150 lbs per person, this load results in a measured gross vehicle weight of 28,220 lbs. 

The performance of the bus is illustrated by a speed vs. time plot. Acceleration

and gradeability test data are provided in Section 4, Performance. The average time to

obtain 50 mph was 27.0 seconds. Top speed obtained on the dynamometer was 59.6

mph.    The maximum gradeability at 10 mph and 40 mph were 14.6% and 5.9% respectively.

A Fuel Economy Test was run on simulated transit test cycles: Manhattan cycle, Orange County Bus cycle and the Heavy-Duty Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (HD-UDDS). central business district, arterial, and commuter courses.  The results were 2.79 mpg, 3.78 mpg, and 5.55 mpg respectively; with an overall average of 4.04 mpg.

A series of Interior and Exterior Noise Tests was performed.  These data are listed in Section 7.1 and 7.2 respectively.

The Emissions Test was performed.  These results are available in Section 8 of this report.