Larson Design Group (LDG) performed a detailed fleet analysis of converting the existing transit buses from diesel to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). A cost estimate and feasibility study of updating their 30,000 square foot maintenance and 10,000 square foot paratransit garages were completed.
LDG was hired as a subconsultant to Small Arrow Engineering to perform a fleet analysis and feasibility for modifications needed for their repair garage and paratransit garage.
The garage feasibility looked at the existing ventilation, heating equipment, and electrical equipment to determine what systems would need to be modified to meet compliance for CNG powered vehicles. LDG provided an Opinion of Probable Cost and a methane detection system layout.
LDG performed a fleet analysis for Wichita Transit which operates a fleet of almost 50 buses for the City of Wichita, Kansas. Utilizing fueling data provided by Transit and the City’s Public Works Department, LDG created financial models for three types of buses – traditional diesel, CNG, and diesel-electric hybrid. The capital investment costs of each model were weighed against the operational costs to identify the overall financial burden of each bus type for Transit and the City in order demonstrate that CNG has the highest potential return on investment.