A BUS FOR AMERICA - GM'S RTS

In an effort to regain the public's faith in the bus as a mode of transport, the US DOT has placed contracts for the construction of advanced prototype buses with GM, AM General and Rohr Industries. One such design, the 47 seater RTS-2 offered by GM, uses a welded stainless steel integral structure with extruded GRP side cladding. An unusual feature is the use of 12.7 mm acrylic sheet for the windows for the material's vandal-proof properties. Based on a 5 ft module the bus has an overall length of 35 ft, each module consisting of box-section hoops with steel side panels and a double-skin roof. Although initial versions will use a Detroit diesel type 8V-71 engine, it is intended that this will be replaced by a 280 bhp gas turbine to reduce noise level below 80 dba although the gas turbine has a higher fuel consumption than the diesel engine. It is thought significant that the bus is some 1000 lb heavier than current GM buses and 4500 lb heavier than the 37 ft long Leyland National bus. /TRRL/

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03076490
• Corporate Authors:

  Institution of Mechanical Engineers

  1 Birdcage Walk
  London SW1H 9JJ,   England 
• Authors:
  • Hartley, J
• Publication Date: 1976-8-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 48-50
• Serial:
  • AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER
  • Volume: 1
  • Issue Number: 6
  • Publisher: Institution of Mechanical Engineers
  • ISSN: 0307-6490

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bus transportation; Buses; Design; Development; Diesel engines; Fuel consumption; Gas turbines; Motors; Prototypes; Sound level; Turbine engines; Turbines; Vehicle design; Weight
• ITRD Terms: 1272: Bus; 9011: Design (overall design); 9013: Development; 1334: Motor; 9109: Prototype; 6747: Sound level; 1313: Turbine
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Energy; Highways; Motor Carriers; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00149058
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Report/Paper Numbers: Analytic
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 17 1981 12:00AM