The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York) (MTA) has tested single buses from time to time, usually on loan from the manufacturer.
| Year | Builder and model name | Length |
Powertrain |
Numbers | Total | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | General Motors Corporation RTS-03 (TH-8203) |
40 | Detroit Diesel series 6V71 | 200 | 1 | This was the first New York City Transit Rapid Transit Series (RTS) bus, and a prototype for future orders. | |
| 1981 | Hino Motors | 40 | Hino diesel engine | 950-952 | 3 | These three demonstrator buses were tested in New York and eventually returned to the manufacturer. | |
| 1981 | Renault PR100 |
40 | Renault engine | 960-961 | 2 | These two demonstrator buses were tested in New York and eventually returned to the manufacturer. | |
| 1982 | DAC 117 UD (articulated) |
55.77 | N/A | 1300-1301 | 2 | These articulated buses were tested by Metropolitan Suburban Bus Authority in Nassau County and eventually were sent back to the manufacturer. | |
| 1983 | MAN AG SG-310-16.5-2A (articulated) |
60 | MAN D2566 MLUM | 8990 | 1 | This demonstrator bus was tested in New York and was sold to Westchester County DOT, becoming bus #661. | |
| 1983 | Neoplan USA AN460 suburban (articulated) |
60 | N/A | 8994 | 1 | This bus was tested in Staten Island for express bus service. | |
| 1983 | Eagle Bus Model 10-SC (commuter bus) |
40 | N/A | 8998-8999 | 2 | These buses were tested in Staten Island for express bus service. | |
| 1984 | Bus Industries of America 01.508 suburban |
40 | Detroit Diesel series 6V92 | 9900 | 1 | This bus was tested in Staten Island for express bus service and was eventually sent back to the manufacturer. This bus was diverted from an order by Capital District Transportation Authority in Albany, New York. | |
| 1984 | MAN AG Americana (SL-40102A) |
40 | MAN D2566 MLUH | 9901 | 1 | This bus was tested in Queens for local bus service. | |
| 1985 |
Motor Coach Industries MC-9A (coach bus) |
45 | Detroit Diesel series 6V92TA | 5950 | 1 | This bus was an Academy Bus unit leased from New Jersey Transit and tested in Staten Island for express bus service. | |
| 1985 | General Motors Corporation RTS-06 suburban |
40 | Detroit Diesel series 6V92TA | 9902 | 1 | This bus was tested in Staten Island for express bus service. | |
| 1989 | Ontario Bus Industries 01.508 CNG |
40 | Cummins L10G (CNG fuel) | N/A | 1 | This bus was a compressed natural gas demonstration bus. | |
| 1989 | Ontario Bus Industries 05.501 |
40 | Detroit Diesel series 6V92TA | 81990 | 1 | This bus was tested in Brooklyn and would also demo with New Jersey Transit before being sold to Transit Windsor in Ontario, Canada, becoming bus# 499. | |
| 1992 | Volvo B58E |
44 | Volvo Engine | 9255-9733-9737-? | 4 | These buses were tested in a Bus Rapid Transit demonstrative line in Manhattan, based in Curitiba Transport System. Made in Brazil by Volvo with Marcopolo and Caio bodies. Nicknamed Speedybuses by New York City residents. They returned to Curitiba after few days in New York City. | |
| 1993 | Neoplan USA AN460 (articulated) |
60 | Detroit Diesel series 6V92TA | 81992 | 1 | This bus saw revenue service in Manhattan on the route M15 before being returned to Neoplan USA. | |
| 1993 | Neoplan USA AN440 suburban |
40 | Detroit Diesel series 6V92TA | 81993 | 1 | This bus saw express service in Staten Island before being returned to Neoplan USA. | |
| 1993 | Motor Coach Industries 102C3 (commuter bus) |
45 | Detroit Diesel series 6V92TA | 81994 | 1 | This bus saw express service in Staten Island before being returned to Motor Coach Industries. | |
| 1994 | Flxible Metro D 40102-4D |
40 | Detroit Diesel series 50 | N/A | 1 | This bus saw local service in Manhattan and Brooklyn before being returned to Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. | |
| 1996 | Orion Bus Industries 06.501 (low floor, electric hybrid) |
40 | N/A | N/A | 1 | This was New York City Transit's first hybrid and its first low floor test bus. It features three axles as well as three entrance and exit doors. The bus has since been returned to Orion Bus Industries. | |
| 1997 | New Flyer Industries D40LF (semi-low floor) |
40 | Detroit Diesel series 50 | F1997 | 1 | This bus has been returned to New Flyer Industries. | |
| 1998 | Northrop Grumman Advanced Technology Transit Bus (ATTB) (low floor CNG) |
40 | Cummins CNG engine and electric propulsion system | ATTB-3 | 1 | Also called "Stealth Bus". This bus was built from a composite material to make it stronger, lighter, and more durable. Another notable design feature is a zero-emission propulsion system. The bus was tested in Brooklyn and it has been returned to Northrop Grumman. | |
| 1998 | Nova Bus RTS-06 (T8O-206) Hybrid |
40 | Diesel-Hybrid propulsion system, Cummins ISB 5.9L | 9900 | 1 | This was the second hybrid test bus for New York City Transit. This bus has been returned to Nova Bus. | |
| 1998 | Nova Bus LFS (TL-40102A) (low floor) |
40 | Detroit Diesel series 40E | 995 | 1 | This bus has been returned to Nova Bus. | |
| 1999 | New Flyer Industries D60LF (semi-low-floor, articulated) |
60 | Detroit Diesel series 50 | 3064T | 1 | This bus saw local service in Manhattan before being returned to Metro Transit in St. Paul, Minnesota. | |
| 2005 | Gillig Phantom Hybrid |
40 | GM Allison Hybrid system- Cummins ISB 5.9L engine | 5770 | 1 | This bus tested the GM-Allison hybrid electric drive. It ran throughout Manhattan and The Bronx in 2005, but has since been returned to Gillig. | |
| 2003 |
Van Hool AG300 (low floor articulated) |
60 | Cummins ISM 10.8L | N/A | 1 | This bus was borrowed from AC Transit in San Francisco, California. | |
| 2006 |
New Flyer Industries D60LF (low floor articulated) |
60 | Caterpillar C9 | N/A | 1 | This bus was borrowed from New Flyer for demonstration purposes. | |
| 2006 | ElDorado National Transmark RE PHEV |
30 | Unknown powertrain systems | 1822 | 1 | This Bus was tested by Long Island Bus, but has since been returned to ElDorado National. | |
| 2007 | Orion Bus Industries 07.501 Next Generation (semi-low floor hybrid) |
40 | Cummins ISB 5.9L ULSD and BAE Systems HybriDrive | 1292, 1294, 1295 | 3 |
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|
| 2007 | Designline MK-IV (semi-low floor) hybrid |
35 | Designline proprietary diesel turbine hybrid drive system | 9900 | 1 | This bus, owned by Wachovia Bank, saw local service in Manhattan and Queens. | |
| 2007 |
Mercedes-Benz (O530) Citaro G (low floor articulated) |
58.85 | Mercedes Benz (Euro IV compliant) OM 457 hLA, BlueTec 4 | 0051 | 1 | This bus saw local service in Manhattan before being returned to Mercedes Benz. | |
| 2007 |
Nova Bus LFS (TL-60102A) (semi-low floor, articulated) |
62 | Cummins ISL-330 | 0054 | 1 | This bus was borrowed from and return to NovaBus for demonstration purposes. | |
| 2008 | Prevost Car X3-45 (commuter bus) |
45 | Detroit Diesel Series 60 EGR | 0052 | 1 | This was tested on Staten Island and Bronx express routes. | |
| 2008 | Van Hool TD925 (low floor double-decker) |
44.5 | Cummins ISM 450 with ZF AStronic 12 speed transmission | 0053 | 1 | This bus was tested by MTA Bus and New York City Transit. | |
| 2009 |
Nova Bus LFS (TL-40102A) (semi-low floor) |
40 | Cummins ISM | 0055 | 1 | This bus was tested under both MTA Bus and New York City Bus and was returned to NovaBus. | |
| 2010 | New Flyer Industries Xcelsior (XDE40) (semi-low floor, hybrid electric) |
41.2 | Cummins ISL 8.9L | 0058 | 1 | This bus was tested under New York City Bus and was returned to New Flyer. | |
| 2011 | Nova Bus LFS (TL-60102A) (semi-low floor, articulated) |
62 | Cummins EPA10 ISL9 | 0059 | 1 | This bus was tested under New York City Bus and was returned to Nova. |
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