Advanced Bus Industries
Encyclopedia
Advanced Bus Industries L.L.C. (ABI) is a bus manufacturer located in Worthington
, Ohio
, USA.
(MSV), a manufacturer of futuristic bus-type vehicles. The MSVs were outfitted with leather interiors, television
s, VCRs, Global Positioning Systems, etc. In June 1998, a group of transit industry executives purchased the company. The new owners expanded the product line offering a newly designed 30-foot model to appeal to the mass transit industry. The name of the company changed to Advanced Bus Industries, L.L.C.
that incorporate the latest technologies in fiberglass
body panels, 100% 304 stainless steel
frames, four-wheel disc brake
s and fully independent air suspension
. The TSV-30 was designed using the TSV-25 as a model. The design of a low floor system makes entering and exiting the bus easier for all passengers, including the physically challenged
. Also, the independent air-ride suspension enhances the vehicle's handling characteristics and offers a smoother ride.
In 2001 the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) purchased 38 ABIs for use on their fixed route service. The unique design won great appeal from riders and drivers alike, however the buses were plagued by a number of problems due to their inability to handle the heavy duty urban transit environment. The front windows had to be replaced constantly as they were prone to shatter from the road vibrations experienced while driving throughout the city. In addition the doors of these vehicles opened and closed very slowly which prolonged boarding and leaving times. By 2005/06 COTA subsequently sold off all of their ABIs to various shuttle service, universities, and bus companies throughout the country.
ABI buses are powered by the Cummins ISB engine coupled with Allison B300R
transmissions. Testing of the first unit exceeded 500,000 miles and 12 years of service life.
Worthington, Ohio
-Dissolution of the Company:By August 11, 1804 the plat maps were completed, payments or notes promising payments collected and deeds prepared for all sixteen thousand acres of the Scioto Company's purchase...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, USA.
History
ABI was originally Mauck Special VehiclesMauck Special Vehicles
Mauck Specialty Vehicles was created by Andy Mauck. It was a builder of custom bus-like vehicles headquartered in Worthington, Ohio, USA, near the headquarters of , run by John McConnell, who provided the early financing to get the MSV off the ground...
(MSV), a manufacturer of futuristic bus-type vehicles. The MSVs were outfitted with leather interiors, television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
s, VCRs, Global Positioning Systems, etc. In June 1998, a group of transit industry executives purchased the company. The new owners expanded the product line offering a newly designed 30-foot model to appeal to the mass transit industry. The name of the company changed to Advanced Bus Industries, L.L.C.
Models
- TSV-25
- TSV-30
Construction
ABI buses are lightweight heavy-duty, low-floor transit coachesBus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
that incorporate the latest technologies in fiberglass
Fiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
body panels, 100% 304 stainless steel
Stainless steel
In metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox from French "inoxydable", is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5 or 11% chromium content by mass....
frames, four-wheel disc brake
Disc brake
The disc brake or disk brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel while it is in motion.A brake disc is usually made of cast iron, but may in some cases be made of composites such as reinforced carbon–carbon or ceramic matrix composites. This is connected to the wheel and/or...
s and fully independent air suspension
Air suspension
Air suspension is a type of vehicle suspension powered by an engine driven or electric air pump or compressor. This pump pressurizes the air, using compressed air as a spring. Air suspension replaces conventional steel springs. If the engine is left off for an extended period, the car will settle...
. The TSV-30 was designed using the TSV-25 as a model. The design of a low floor system makes entering and exiting the bus easier for all passengers, including the physically challenged
Physical disability
A physical disability is any impairment which limits the physical function of one or more limbs or fine or gross motor ability. Other physical disabilities include impairments which limit other facets of daily living, such as respiratory disorders and epilepsy....
. Also, the independent air-ride suspension enhances the vehicle's handling characteristics and offers a smoother ride.
In 2001 the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) purchased 38 ABIs for use on their fixed route service. The unique design won great appeal from riders and drivers alike, however the buses were plagued by a number of problems due to their inability to handle the heavy duty urban transit environment. The front windows had to be replaced constantly as they were prone to shatter from the road vibrations experienced while driving throughout the city. In addition the doors of these vehicles opened and closed very slowly which prolonged boarding and leaving times. By 2005/06 COTA subsequently sold off all of their ABIs to various shuttle service, universities, and bus companies throughout the country.
ABI buses are powered by the Cummins ISB engine coupled with Allison B300R
Allison Transmission
Allison Transmission is an American manufacturer of commercial duty automatic transmissions and hybrid propulsion systems. Allison products are specified by over 250 of the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers and are used in many market sectors including bus, refuse, fire, construction,...
transmissions. Testing of the first unit exceeded 500,000 miles and 12 years of service life.
Photos
Competitors
- Blue Bird Corporation
- Champion Bus Inc.Champion Bus IncorporatedChampion Bus Incorporated is the brand name of buses made by Thor Industries of Imlay City, Michigan, United States.Buses made under the Champion name include:* Challenger - mid-size bus using a Ford E-series , GM GMT or C4500 truck chassis...
- Glaval Bus
- Goshen Coach
Clients
- Central Ohio Transit AuthorityCentral Ohio Transit AuthorityThe Central Ohio Transit Authority is a public sector transit agency serving Franklin County and the rest of the central Ohio area, which includes Columbus, as well as Bexley, Gahanna, Grandview Heights, Grove City, Hilliard, Reynoldsburg, Upper Arlington, Westerville, Whitehall, and Worthington...
- Mountain Metropolitan TransitMountain Metropolitan TransitMountain Metropolitan Transit is the public transportation operator for the metro area of Colorado Springs, Colorado. In addition to 18 local routes, commuter bus service to the city of Denver, and Woodland Park is also provided....
- StarMetroStarMetroStarMetro is the city-owned and operated bus service for Tallahassee, Florida and was previously known as TalTran.-Active Fleet:-Promotional Fleet:-Retired Fleet:-Routes:...
of Tallahassee, FloridaTallahassee, FloridaTallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by... - Tri-Delta TransitTri-Delta TransitTri Delta Transit, also known as Eastern Contra Costa Transit Authority, is the local public transportation provider for the eastern area of Contra Costa County in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, U.S.A.. It provides local bus service in the communities of Bay Point, Pittsburg, Antioch,...