DesignLine Corporation

Type	Private
Industry	Bus manufacturing
Founded	1985
Founder(s)	John Turton
Number of locations	Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
Area served	North America
Key people	Joseph Smith, CEO Steve Justice, Sales
Divisions
Website	http://www.designlinecorporation.com

DesignLine Corporation is a manufacturer of coach, electric and range-extended electric (hybrid) buses founded in Ashburton, New Zealand in 1985. Initially it was a manufacturer of tour coaches. In the 1990s it diversified into conventional transit buses and then added hybrid city buses in the late 1990s. It was acquired by American interests in 2006, and DesignLine Corporations’ headquarters was relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina.

DesignLine Corporation is no longer affiliated with the DesignLine operations in New Zealand, which was placed in liquidation in 2011^[1] and has since been sold to a Malaysian-controlled joint business venture who operate it under the name DesignLine Bus Pacific.^[2]

[edit]Leadership

Joseph Smith became President and CEO of DesignLine in 2012 following a reorganization of the board and management. Smith is a bus industry veteran and the former President of the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority Bus Company. He first interacted with DesignLine while at MTA and became interested in the company’s technology. After the company was recapitalized in early 2012, Smith was installed as President and CEO to move the company forward and maximize its technological capabilities.

DesignLine has recently hired Steve Justice to serve as head of company sales efforts^[3]. Justice is a 39-year veteran of the bus industry having worked for Allison Transmission and Detroit Diesel Allison.

[edit]Hybrid vehicle

One key component of the DesignLine fleet is its range-extended electric bus (hybrid), the EcoSaver. The bus is a plug-in battery powered electric vehicle. As battery power is depleted, an on-board diesel or compressed natural gas (CNG) turbine engine engages. Unlike other hybrid buses, the on-board engine does not run vehicle systems as the battery depletes. Rather the turbine produces electricity that recharges the batteries. The turbines are supplied by Capstone Turbine of Chatsworth, California.

The bus was originally designed as a response to the international tender for ecological buses to be used in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. While the design was rated as technically best[citation needed] it did not win the tender. This first-of-its-kind technology has been deployed in a number of fleets as the process has been tested and improved. Recent testing at the Bus Testing and Research Center at Penn State University show a substantial improvement in fuel economy over traditional buses. The EcoSaver will also be included as part of a national research effort coordinated by the National Renewable Energy Lab(NREL) to yield performance data on clean fuel vehicles.

Numerous demonstration fleets of EcoSaver vehicles have been deployed worldwide since 1998. The DesignLine electric drive system has undergone several major development cycles, with the fourth generation North American system now in production.

[edit]Electric vehicle

DesignLine’s EcoSmart is an all-electric bus powered by sodium batteries, and based on the established EcoSaver drive train system. The bus is 100% emissions free. The bus plugs in to recharge, and captures energy from regenerative braking technology. The bus does not need proprietary charging infrastructure. Simple industrial grade electrical access is all that is required. The buses can travel more than 100 miles between charges.

The EcoSmart is in service internationally in Australia and Abu Dhabi UAE with North American deliveries scheduled for 2012.

[edit]Coach vehicle

DesignLine’s EcoCoach is a high floor, single door bus powered by either compressed natural gas (CNG) or diesel fuel. The bus is built on a lightweight frame that lowers overall vehicle weight and improves fuel economy. The bus is designed for long routes with infrequent stops, such as intercity routes, or limited access transit routes (i.e. Park and Ride). DesignLine has a contract with New Jersey Transit to supply the agency with 76 EcoCoach buses by May 2013.

[edit]Products

DesignLine markets the following buses:

[edit]Usage

Currently, Designline buses are used in revenue service in 13 cities in five countries worldwide, with five more cities in the United States planning to introduce them in the near future.^[4]

[edit]United States

Future operators

• San Diego, CA
• Los Angeles
• Arlington, VA
• Denver, CO
• Palmdale, CA

[edit]New Zealand

• Auckland
  • NZ Bus
    • North Star
    • GO WEST
    • Metrolink
    • Waka Pacific
  • Birkenhead Transport
  • Richies
  • Howick and Eastern
  • AIRBUS EXPRESS
  • Urban Express
• Christchurch
  • Leopard Coachlines
  • Red Bus Ltd
  • Go Bus Christchurch
• Dunedin
  • Citibus
  • Passenger Transport
• Hamilton
• Hastings and Napier
• Palmerston North
• Wellington
  • GO Wellington

[edit]Australia

• Adelaide
• Mackay, Qld
• Melbourne

[edit]Other countries

• Tokyo, Japan
• Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom
  • Stagecoach – one Olymbus diesel-electric bus was evaluated in 2004, this bus became one of ten Olymbus buses for QuayLink bus service in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Gateshead and they were operated from 22 July 2005 until being replaced by Optare Versa from 10 August 2010. This was due to difficulty coping with hills on the route. ^[5]

[edit]References