Top Tech Innovations
The alternator-powered all-electric HVAC system provides full capacity at engine idle, constant capacity throughout the speed range of the engine, lower maintenance costs, improved reliability, fuel savings and a control system that optimizes energy management and conservation.
Alternator power can be applied to rear-mount and roof-mount all-electric HVAC systems that feature environmentally sensitive, high-efficiency hermetic scroll compressor technology inside the unit. The HVAC system comes pre-charged with high-capacity refrigerant R-407C. It also features a one-piece design for easy installation. All pipes and fittings are enclosed within the system to help ensure refrigerant remains contained.
The alternator-powered all-electric HVAC system can be used on all diesel engine-driven buses in the transit and coach markets. It can also be used in hybrid bus applications when the available power for an all-electric HVAC system is limited.
“More and more bus manufacturers and operators are seeking solutions for environmentally responsible fleets. The alternator-powered all-electric heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) technology from Thermo King helps improve performance while increasing sustainability. This innovative technology provides a unique all-electric HVAC solution for a standard diesel-engine-driven bus. Thanks to our advanced inverter technology, the system provides constant capacity through the full range of engine speeds, including idle. Improved fuel economy, increased reliability, lower maintenance and life cycle costs are key benefits of this technology.”
-Martin Duffy, vice president, global bus and rail HVAC, at Thermo King, a business of Ingersoll-Rand
Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority – TransitStat
TransitStat requires GCRTA’s management team to use data and information systems to define, measure, analyze, improve and control (DMAIC) operations.
Stat programs are structured, continuous management processes, which entail the frequent gathering, reviewing and analyzing of day-to-day government performance. GCRTA holds weekly meetings led by OMB and an executive team to review performance, understand trends and make necessary adjustments to ensure that immediate and long-term goals are met.
TransitStat affects the entire organization’s culture by signaling that performance and data-driven management is important.
Over the past several years, GCRTA’s business strategy has focused on three goals: A) Maintain financial health, B) Improve customer service, and C) Enhance the image of GCRTA. In order to affect these goals, GCRTA must embrace a performance culture that manages by data. TransitStat enhances GCRTA’s ability to deliver performance needed to reach and exceed its goals.
TransitStat is centered on four principles:
1. Provide timely, accurate and relevant data.
2. Analyze data and develop effective solutions that respond to emerging issues.
3. Deploy resources quickly to address issues.
4. Relentless follow-up and assessment.
TransitStat encourages a culture of data-driven decision-making, identifies cross-functional gaps, and identifies operational issues that often ‘fly under the radar’ of executives, such as absenteeism, overtime and service complaints. TransitStat also identifies negative trends early and creates a solutions-based culture.
TransitStat has aided in managing the areas of the business where underperformance has the largest impact. The work, labor, parts and performance in the Operation’s Departments can all be tracked in UltraMain. Therefore, bi-weekly forums on progress, costs and timelines have proven beneficial to ensuring accountability and high performance. In addition, it forces the management team to utilize UltraMain to manage and control projects. This benefits the department and forces the apprentices to learn and utilize UltraMain for all work functions. For instance, we have recently developed time standards for some maintenance tasks. This creates the forum to analyze and question variation in performance between districts and against the standard.
