RANGE OF SMALL BUS ENGINEERING, DEVELOPMENT, AND MANUFACTURING

In summary, given the time and financial resources, a new heavy-duty bus could be produced either as an integrated design or as a body-on-chassis vehicle. The development time could range from nearly 4 years for an integrated design to less than 3 years for a dual source, body-on-chassis small bus. The cost of developing a new small bus could range from $1 million for a bus chassis to more than $10 million for a sophisticated integrated design. Tooling for either small bus could cost several millions more, depending on the number of new components required and on assembly techniques. The ultimate questions are: Who will provide these resources and who will devote enough production capacity to produce more profitable small bus vehicles? Without answers to these questions, the small bus market will continue to be supplied for the most part by conversions of light-duty vans and motor homes. (Author)

• Digital Copy:
  • Purchase a digital copy of this publication for $25 USD
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper appeared in TRB Unpublished Report No. 6, Workshop on Small Buses.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Buckel, M
• Publication Date: 1978-9

Media Info

• Features: Figures;
• Pagination: p. 9-12
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Board Unpublished Report
  • Issue Number: 6
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Development; Financing; Research; Small buses; Vehicle bodies; Vehicle design
• Uncontrolled Terms: Research and development
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Research; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00376367
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: DOT-UT-70060
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jul 30 1983 12:00AM