The Prevost H3-45 is the long member of the H-Series, a family of motorcoaches and conversion shells built by Prevost in Quebec. It arrived in 1994, when 45-foot coaches were legalised in the United States, and it is the only H-Series bus still in production after the 2023 update dropped the shorter H3-41.
Prevost H3-45 at a glance
| Maker | Prevost Car, Sainte-Claire, Quebec, Canada |
|---|---|
| Type | intercity motorcoach and Class A conversion shell |
| H-Series introduced | 1985, with the articulated H5-60 |
| H3-40 | 1989, 40-foot rigid coach |
| H3-41 | 1994, 41-foot update of the H3-40 |
| H3-45 | 1994, 45-foot coach, still in production |
| Updates | 2002, 2009 and 2023 |
| Length | 45 ft nominal for the H3-45 |
| Axles | three on the H3 models, five on the H5-60 |
| Engine | Volvo D13 since 2011, Detroit Diesel before |
| Gearbox | Allison World Bus six-speed automatic |
| Interior height | 77 in (1.96 m) on the passenger deck |
| Underfloor storage | up to 460 cu ft (13 m3) |
The H3-40, H3-41 and H3-45 share a single article on English Wikipedia; the company details come from the article on Prevost itself.
History of the Prevost H3-45
The articulated beginning
The H-Series started in 1985 with the H5-60, a 60-foot articulated bus with five axles, two of them steering axles at the front. It was presented at the annual meeting of the American Bus Association, and operators such as Orléans Express and Holland America Lines–Westours took it on. Only 46 H5-60s were completed in four years of production, as the initial purchase, running and maintenance costs limited its appeal.
H3-40, H3-41 and H3-45
Rigid body models followed from 1989, beginning with the 40-foot H3-40. When 45-foot buses were legalised in 1994, Prevost released the H3-45 and updated the H3-40 into the 41-foot H3-41. The three coaches are close relatives and are easily confused at a distance: the H3-41 carries three baggage compartment doors between the front and rear wheels, the H3-45 four. The H3-40 also has three doors, but one sits close to the front axle and two close to the rear axles, while the H3-41 has two forward and one aft.
Updates and the conversion market
The rigid H-Series was updated in 2002, 2009 and 2023. The facelifts brought a new sound system and options for GPS and destination signs. The 2023 update discontinued the H3-41 and left the H3-45 as the sole H-Series bus. Besides the seated coach, Prevost sells the H3-45 VIP, a conversion shell with a minimal interior that upfitters finish as a Class A motorhome. The coach competes with the MCI J-Series.
Mechanical layout
Since 2011 the standard engine has been a Volvo D13 diesel, driving through an Allison “World Bus” six-speed automatic transmission; earlier coaches used Detroit Diesel Series 92 and Series 60 engines. The passenger deck offers an interior height of 77 in (1.96 m), and there is up to 460 cu ft (13 m3) of luggage space under the passenger floor.
Design and features
- One family, three lengths: the 40-foot H3-40, the 41-foot H3-41 and the 45-foot H3-45 share their structure and mechanical layout.
- Volvo power: a Volvo D13 diesel with an Allison World Bus six-speed automatic has been standard since 2011.
- Conversion shell: the H3-45 VIP is sold to upfitters who finish it as a luxury motorhome.
- Luggage space: up to 460 cu ft (13 m3) of storage under the passenger floor.
- Long life: the series has been facelifted in 2002, 2009 and 2023 without a clean-sheet replacement.
Prevost H3-45 versions
- H5-60 (1985): articulated five-axle bus, 46 built.
- H3-40 (1989): the first rigid H-Series coach.
- H3-41 (1994–2023): 41-foot version of the H3-40.
- H3-45 (1994–): 45-foot coach, the current model.
- H3-45 VIP: conversion shell for Class A motorhome builders.
The H3-45 has a sister coach in the X-Series, and the line reaches back through the LeMirage to the earliest Canadian coaches described in the Prevost company history. More pictures are in the Prevost collection.
Video: Marathon Coach 2015 Show Coach #1219, Prevost H3-45 Double Slide
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Prevost H-Series, English Wikipedia: models, design, baggage doors, engine, updates
- Prevost (bus manufacturer), English Wikipedia: H5-60, facelifts, company background
