User:Mliu92/sandbox/NABI BRT

The NABI BRT was a line of low-floor transit buses available in 42' rigid (42-BRT) and 60' articulated (60-BRT) nominal lengths manufactured by North American Bus Industries (NABI) between 2004 and 2015. In addition to the different available lengths, the buses were sold with a variety of prime movers, ranging from conventional diesel and CNG combustion engines to diesel-electric hybrid.

The NABI BRT was styled to resemble a light-rail vehicle for service on bus rapid transit lines, joining the existing NABI LFW (for local bus service) and NABI CompoBus product lines (for lower-capacity rapid and express routes). After New Flyer acquired NABI in 2013, all NABI product lines were discontinued in 2015, once existing orders for NABI buses had been fulfilled.

Design
The NABI BRT line uses a model number designating the nominal length along with the BRT family designator. For example, a NABI 60-BRT is a 60' (nominal) articulated low floor transit bus. The BRT line was announced in 2003, launched with a 60-foot nominal articulated bus in 2004, and joined by a similarly-styled 42-foot rigid bus in 2006. A single 65-foot model (65-BRT) was built and sold to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA). On the stamped vehicle identification plate, the vehicle type is identified as xxBRT.nn, where xx gives the nominal length (in feet) and nn is the sequentially-assigned order number, starting from 01.

The NABI BRT featured a double roof providing a space 18 in tall, extending the length of the vehicle, which could be used to store HVAC equipment, natural gas tanks (for CNG-fueled vehicles), or batteries (for hybrid vehicles). Like prior NABI buses, body shells were assembled in Hungary and shipped to the NABI plant in Anniston, Alabama for finishing  until body production was shifted to Anniston gradually starting in 2011; by late 2012, the transition was complete.

Hybrid
The six Model 42-BRT buses delivered to LACMTA in 2008 used a unique gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain. The largest user of hybrid NABI BRT buses was WMATA, who placed an order in July 2013 for up to 654 buses (if all the procurement options were taken); this was realized with 105 42-BRT diesel-electric hybrid buses delivered in 2014.

Deployment
The first NABI 60-BRT buses were delivered to LACMTA in October 2004; LACMTA was also the first customer for the 42-BRT, delivered in 2008. The final NABI BRT buses to be built were completed in 2015: the 60-BRT for Transfort, serving Fort Collins, Colorado and the 42-BRT for Massport, serving Logan Airport in Boston. The NABI factory in Anniston was then retooled to produce New Flyer Xcelsior low-floor buses for the United States transit market.

Most of the BRT production was for the 60-BRT model. LACMTA was the largest customer, with almost 400 60-BRTs delivered.

Competition

 * Gillig Low Floor
 * New Flyer Xcelsior
 * Nova Bus LF Series
 * Orion VII