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Gillig
transit buses
are used everyday by
thousands of people
in hundreds of
cities across the country.
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| No
matter what the time of day, there
is probably a Gillig transit bus
working somewhere --- in Hawaii a
Gillig bus is on its last run for
the night, while in Florida
another Gillig bus is starting its
first run for the next day --- but
it wasn't always like that. In
fact, when Gillig started in
business, there was no public
transit and buses didn't even
exist! |
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| Gillig
was founded over 110 years ago,
in 1890, in San Francisco,
and at that time,
Gillig was modifying and
building buggies and
carriages --- the main
mode of transportation of
that time. Gillig
continued in
transportation and adapted
to the new horseless
technology but the factory
was burned down in the
great San Francisco
earthquake and fire of
1906. However, that
setback didn't keep Gillig
down, the factory was soon
rebuilt and the production
of early model buses
began, followed later by
school buses and troop
transports. After the war,
Gillig went back to
building school buses and,
by the late 1970' s, added
transit buses to the model
line up. |
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| Now Gillig
only builds heavy duty transit
buses. They come in different
lengths and in two basic models,
the standard floor model called
the Phantom and the newer
Low
Floor model. Both have good
reputations and have proven to be
very reliable, durable and
economical to operate. Gillig
buses are now highly regarded by
the U. S. transit industry, and
Gillig has a solid reputation of
being the most stable and
financially secure company,
focused on satisfying its
customers and delivering on its
promises. |
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Gillig
is the second largest producer of
transit buses in North America
(APT A's 2000 Data Book) and
actually produced over 1,200 buses
for almost l00 different
customers, from Alaska to Florida
and in order sizes from 1 to 500
buses.
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Most of the buses Gillig
builds today are powered by diesel
engines, but the technology has
been changing rapidly in the last
few years. Today's diesel engines
are 20 to 30% more fuel efficient
and also emit 60 to 80% fewer
exhaust emissions. Next year, with
the help of low sulfur diesel fuel
and soot filters, the engines will
be cleaner than natural gas
engines (lower PM emissions) and
in 2002 their NOx emissions will
be about the same as CNG engines,
making them better than or at
least equivalent to the best
alternative fuel engines, for a
lot less money and with a much
higher reliability.
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| However,
Gillig knows technology
does not stand still, so
it is continuing to invest
in new technology, looking
for the next generation
engine to power buses, and
that could be hybrid
electric. Gillig has
three separate hybrid
electric projects in the
works. It's first hybrid
electric bus, built in
1996, was a series hybrid
system, but its current
project with GM's Allison
Division is a parallel
hybrid system, using
Allison's EV drive unit.
It is the first parallel
hybrid electric, heavy
duty transit bus (40')
ever built and its
advantages are higher
energy efficiency and
higher road speed
capability than series
hybrids. The picture
(below right) is of
one of these buses on test
in Arizona.
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Gillig is also
investigating electric
drive systems produced by
other manufacturers.
ENOVA, a Southern
California based
manufacturer producing
electric drive systems for
cars and trucks, is also
developing a large series
system for buses.
Gillig has also begun
working with Dana/Alstom
in the development of yet
another series hybrid
electric drive system for
transit buses.
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| However,
these new technologies are 3 to 5
years away from production
viability, the impediments being
cost, battery life, and unknown
operational reliability. Of
course, competition and higher
volumes will bring the costs down,
and ultra caps could be the answer
to energy storage, but these,
along with fine tuning to improve
reliability, need a few more years
of development. But while
Gillig continues to develop these
technologies along
with others, such
as the the
electric trolley
bus (pictured
left), it is also
investigating the next generation
of power plants for buses --- fuel
cells. |
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This
new technology is developing
rapidly in the automotive market
and is already being upsized and
upgraded for the heavy duty
requirements of buses and the
severe duty cycle of transit. And,
although this technology is
probably 10 to 15 years away from
being production viable, Gillig is
already working with Xcellsis and
IFC on the development of this new
power source.
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The
advantage of fuel cells is that
they are a zero emission source of
power, but their cost is still
very high, their size large and
their reliability unproven. Also,
the fuel hydrogen is difficult to
get, does not have a distribution
infrastructure, and is dangerous
to handle. On-board reformers
could be an answer and direct
reformers fueled by gasoline would
be the ideal solution. |
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Along
with these developments, Gillig
continues to improve its products
and services through its
continuous improvement program and
through the suggestions and
feedback from its customers.
Product improvements include more
easily serviceable components with
reduced maintenance requirements,
lighter weight, more corrosion
resistant and more easily
recyclable materials, better
creature comforts and increased
use of intelligent vehicle systems
such as AVL. |
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| With
guaranteed Federal funding, a good
economy and increasing ridership,
the future looks strong for public
transit. And, with the right
customer focus, the right products
and the continued high level of
performance from its experienced
and dedicated employees, the
future looks good for Gillig. |
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