Orion International

Orion International
Type Subsidiary
Industry Bus building
Founded 1975
Headquarters 350 Hazelhurst Road, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5J 4T8
Area served Canada, United States
Key people Andreas Strecker (CEO)
Products Transit buses
Owner(s) Daimler AG
Employees 1,400 (US and Canada)
Website www.orionbus.com

Orion International, previously Orion Bus Industries and Ontario Bus Industries in Canada and Bus Industries of America in the United States, is a bus manufacturer based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada and established by the Government of Ontario in 1975. Privatized in 1993, Orion was acquired by Daimler Chrysler (now Daimler AG) in July 2000, and is now part of the group Daimler Buses North America.

Contents

Current product

Orion VII third generation
Manufacturer Orion International
Production 2010-present
Assembly Mississauga, Ontario
Oriskany, New York
Predecessor Orion VII Next Generation
Class Transit bus
Layout T-Drive or series hybrid
Engine Cummins ISB, ISL, or ISL G
Transmission Allison B400R, ZF 6AP1200B, or Voith D864.5
Wheelbase 190 in (4.83 m), 226 in (5.74 m), or 286 in (7.26 m)
Length 32.5 ft (9.91 m), 35 ft (10.67 m), or 40.5 ft (12.34 m)
Width 102 in (2.59 m)
Height 127 in (3.23 m) (diesel)
132 in (3.35 m) (diesel electric hybrid)
135 in (3.43 m) (CNG)

The current product from Orion International is the Orion VII third generation semi-low-floor bus. Introduced in 2007 as the Next Generation model to replace an earlier generation of the Orion VII produced from 2001–2007, and as the replacement for the Orion V after 2009,[1][2] this model, produced as a 102 in (2.59 m)-wide bus, is available as a 40.5 ft (12.34 m), 35 ft (10.67 m), or 32.5 ft (9.91 m) bus. Fuel options include biodiesel, CNG, or diesel. There is also a diesel-electric hybrid, available with a lithium-ion battery. For non-CNG units, the air-conditioning is on the roof. Starting in late 2010, framed windows became an option on Orion VII Next Generation and third generation buses; an example of such a bus is shown in the table below.

Previous products

Orion has manufactured a number of different models of buses over its 30+ year existence. A list of models is given below; each increasing number is the next generation model.

Discontinued products

Model Length & Width Picture Produced Fuel type
Orion I 31 ft (9.45 m) • 96 in (2.44 m),
35 ft (10.67 m) • 96 in (2.44 m),
37 ft (11.28 m) • 96 in (2.44 m),
40 ft (12.19 m) • 96 in (2.44 m)

1977–1993
Orion II 21.92 ft (6.68 m) • 96 in (2.44 m),
25.92 ft (7.90 m) • 96 in (2.44 m)

1983–2003
Orion III or Orion-Ikarus (bodies and chassis made by Ikarus to form the Ikarus 286 model, marketed as the Orion-Ikarus)[3] 60 ft (18.29 m) • 102 in (2.59 m) 1986–1989
Orion IV
  • Tractor: 37.5 ft (11.43 m) • 98.75 in (2.51 m)
  • Trailer: 35.5 ft (10.82 m) • 98.75 in (2.51 m)
1985–1989
Orion V 32 ft (9.75 m) • 96 in (2.44 m),
35 ft (10.67 m) • 96 in (2.44 m),
35 ft (10.67 m) • 102 in (2.59 m),
40 ft (12.19 m) • 96 in (2.44 m),
40 ft (12.19 m) • 102 in (2.59 m)

1989–2009
Orion VI 40 ft (12.19 m) • 102 in (2.59 m)
1995–2004
Orion VII
(First Generation)
32.5 ft (9.91 m) • 102 in (2.59 m),
35 ft (10.67 m) • 102 in (2.59 m),
40.5 ft (12.34 m) • 102 in (2.59 m)

2001–2007
Orion VII
(Next Generation)
32.5 ft (9.91 m) • 102 in (2.59 m),
35 ft (10.67 m) • 102 in (2.59 m),
40.5 ft (12.34 m) • 102 in (2.59 m)

2007–2011

Assembly plants

See also

References

  1. ^ CNY Business Journal (1996+): Orion Bus expects employment bump
  2. ^ SFMTA: Hybrid Buses
  3. ^ Wilkins, Van (Spring 1986). "Success with a Twist" (feature article about the development and use of articulated buses in North America). Bus World magazine, pp. 7–13. ISSN 0162-9689.

External links

Hybrid buses