Cummins Westport Inc's low-emissions L Gas Plus natural gas engine has been selected by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of Los Angeles County for an order of up to 600 buses. Initially, the transit authority will purchase 200 buses equipped with the L Gas Plus engine, with the right to increase the order to 600 if certain options are exercised.
“With the options, this is the largest order Cummins Westport has received to date and the first order for the new 320-horsepower L Gas Plus,” says Hugh Foden, president of Cummins Westport.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority of Los Angeles County has ordered the Cummins Westport 8.9-liter L Gas Plus natural gas engines for installation in 60-foot, low-floor articulating buses, manufactured by North American Bus Industries (NABI) of Anniston AL. The first of these buses will be delivered by mid-2005 with remaining deliveries through 2006. After delivery of the first 200 engines, 70% of the transit authority's total fleet of 2,400 buses will be powered by natural gas, making it one of the largest natural gas-powered transit bus fleets in the world. The commercial launch of the L Gas Plus engine is planned for mid-2004.