THE CALIFORNIA STEAM BUS PROJECT: TECHNICAL EVALUATION

The California Steam Bus Project demonstrated the potential of low-emission, quiet external combustion engines in public transit service. Work was sponsored by the California State Assembly, with a grant from the Urban Mass Transportation Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Three contractors supplied and installed steam powerplants in urban buses, replacing the original diesel engines. Exhaust emissions were found to be considerably lower than the 1975 California requirements for heavy-duty vehicles. Substantial reductions in sound levels were measured in one of the buses. Powerplants weights can be lower than present diesel engines. Road performance was similar to that with diesel engines, but very high fuel comsumption was experienced with these non-optimized demonstration vehicles. Prospects for future improvements are given, including the outlook for large reductions in fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. (Author)

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Sponsored in part by California State Assembly, Sacramento. See also PB-218 143.
• Corporate Authors:

  International Research and Development Corporation

  1501 Wilson Boulevard
  Arlington, VA  United States  22209
• Authors:
  • Renner, R A
• Publication Date: 1973-1

Media Info

• Pagination: 126 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Buses; Buses by motive power; Exhaust gases; External combustion engines; Fuel consumption; Noise; Performance evaluations; Pollutants; Public transit; Steam; Steam engines; Tests; Vehicles by motive power
• Identifier Terms: U.S. Urban Mass Transportation Administration
• Geographic Terms: California
• Old TRIS Terms: Noise sound; Steam buses vehicles
• Subject Areas: Energy; Environment; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00046240
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: IRT-301-R Final Rpt
• Files: NTIS
• Created Date: Jul 31 2003 12:00AM