The Vancouver-based Cummins Westport joint venture has received an order for 100 natural gas transit bus engines for Valley Metro, the public transit entity for the
Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area.

The buses will get the newly developed C8.3G Plus, an 8.3-litre, spark-ignited engine rated at 280 horsepower. The engines will be installed in new buses to be manufactured by North American Bus Industries of Anniston, Alabama. Delivery of the buses is scheduled to take place from October 2001 through February 2002.
"The selection by Phoenix of natural gas for public transit buses underscores the low-emissions and fuel price advantages of this fuel," said Glenn Kelly, Equipment Analyst, City of Phoenix Public Transit Department.
He noted that Phoenix began operating natural gas buses in 1998 under an Arizona mandate to reduce emissions through the use of alternative fuels.
Valley Metro currently has approximately 330 natural gas buses and 370 diesel fuel buses. After receiving the new buses and retiring 50 older diesel buses, approximately 75% of the Valley Metro fleet will be natural
gas-powered. All of the existing and newly ordered buses use liquefied natural gas (LNG) for fuel. Since inception of the Phoenix long-term LNG supply contract, the price has always been lower than diesel fuel, says Kelly.
Production of the C8.3G Plus is scheduled to begin this month by Cummins Inc. at its engine plant in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. This advanced version of the C8.3G engine, which Cummins has produced since 1996, is
designed for school, shuttle and transit buses and for urban work trucks like refuse haulers.