Daimler Buses North America (DBNA) unveiled the new-generation diesel Orion VII transit bus, now equipped with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) emissions technology, at the Bus & Paratransit Conference in Cleveland, Ohio. Sales of the all-new Orion VII have already commenced in the US and DBNA has received the first orders for the vehicle.

The diesel Orion VII with SCR exceeds the requirements of the EPA 2010 emission standards, reducing NO_x emissions to almost zero and augmenting fuel efficiency.

Daimler Buses put a total of seven test buses through extensive durability testing. The buses were subjected to 60 test cycles and logged approximately 500,000 miles mimicking real-life driving conditions.

The new generation Orion VII is available with diesel, hybrid and natural gas (CNG) drives. The three drive versions feature almost identical engine compartments so that components and harnesses could be standardized across all three applications providing ease of maintenance for the end user. The design of the Orion VII has been improved in a number of ways, particularly with a view to accommodating customer preferences. Through improved sound proofing, noise has been reduced both inside and outside the bus.

Daimler Buses is the world’s largest manufacturer of diesel-electric hybrid buses, and Daimler Buses North America has sold more than 3,000 Orion hybrid buses to date. In addition to New York, Orion hybrid buses have proven themselves in cities such as San Francisco, Houston, Toronto, and Ottawa.

Daimler Buses North America, headquartered in Greensboro, NC, is part of Daimler Buses and combines three bus brands under one corporate structure: Orion transit buses, Setra motorcoaches, and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter shuttle buses.