Designline
Encyclopedia
DesignLine Corporation is a bus
, coach
, and trolleybus
manufacturer founded in Ashburton, New Zealand
in 1985. Initially it was a manufacturer of tour coaches, later it diversified into city buses in the early 1990s, and then to 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
. It has plants in both Charlotte and New Zealand.
On 31 May 2011, DesignLine Corporation in New Zealand was placed in liquidation and has since been sold to a Malaysian-controlled joint business venture.
buses, running on battery
power and with a small gas turbine
engine and generator
to keep the battery charged. The turbines are supplied by Capstone Turbine of Chatsworth, California. Originally designed as a response to the international tender for ecological buses to be used in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the design was rated as technically best but did not win the tender. The City of Baltimore's Charm City Circulator
operated by Veolia Transportation has reported significant concerns with the reliability of the DesignLine EcoSaver IV, owing to difficulties in the company's supply chain and problems with the battery and turbine function in hot weather. As a result, the Charm City Circulator has publicly stated they will be retiring the entire EcoSaver IV fleet in early 2012.
The Chicago Transit Authority
and New York City MTA
tested the DesignLine ECOSaver IV hybrid bus in 2007 (the latter ended up ordering EcoSaver IV buses; but the order was canceled.). Banff is now the only 100% hybrid transit fleet in North America. The DesignLine bus nearly doubles the fuel efficiency of a 40 foot bus, compared against traditional diesel vehicles.
These vehicles were introduced in 1998 on the Shuttle zero-fare inner-city bus in Christchurch, New Zealand
, first as diesel hybrids, and then as gas-turbine hybrids in 2000. After trials in Japan in conjunction with The Tokyo Electric Power Company
, they have found export markets in Japan (2003), Hong Kong (2003), and in Tyne and Wear
, England for the QuayLink
operations.
DesignLine buses are manufactured in New Zealand for left-hand traffic markets, and the United States for right-hand traffic markets.
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
, coach
Coach (vehicle)
A coach is a large motor vehicle, a type of bus, used for conveying passengers on excursions and on longer distance express coach scheduled transport between cities - or even between countries...
, and trolleybus
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
manufacturer founded in Ashburton, New Zealand
Ashburton, New Zealand
Ashburton is a town and district in the Canterbury Region on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is the third-largest centre in Canterbury, after Christchurch and Timaru. The area around Ashburton is frequently referred to as Mid Canterbury, which is also the name of the...
in 1985. Initially it was a manufacturer of tour coaches, later it diversified into city buses in the early 1990s, and then to 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
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. It has plants in both Charlotte and New Zealand.
On 31 May 2011, DesignLine Corporation in New Zealand was placed in liquidation and has since been sold to a Malaysian-controlled joint business venture.
Hybrid buses
Designline is now best known for its hybridHybrid vehicle
A hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that uses two or more distinct power sources to move the vehicle. The term most commonly refers to hybrid electric vehicles , which combine an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors.-Power:...
buses, running on battery
Battery (electricity)
An electrical battery is one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Since the invention of the first battery in 1800 by Alessandro Volta and especially since the technically improved Daniell cell in 1836, batteries have become a common power...
power and with a small gas turbine
Gas turbine
A gas turbine, also called a combustion turbine, is a type of internal combustion engine. It has an upstream rotating compressor coupled to a downstream turbine, and a combustion chamber in-between....
engine and generator
Electrical generator
In electricity generation, an electric generator is a device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. A generator forces electric charge to flow through an external electrical circuit. It is analogous to a water pump, which causes water to flow...
to keep the battery charged. The turbines are supplied by Capstone Turbine of Chatsworth, California. Originally designed as a response to the international tender for ecological buses to be used in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the design was rated as technically best but did not win the tender. The City of Baltimore's Charm City Circulator
Charm City Circulator
The Charm City Circulator is a privately funded, public transit shuttle bus service giving riders free connection to historic sites, parking, and businesses throughout downtown Baltimore for free. The newest system in Maryland was established in 2008, but did not begin inaugural service until...
operated by Veolia Transportation has reported significant concerns with the reliability of the DesignLine EcoSaver IV, owing to difficulties in the company's supply chain and problems with the battery and turbine function in hot weather. As a result, the Charm City Circulator has publicly stated they will be retiring the entire EcoSaver IV fleet in early 2012.
The Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago Transit Authority, also known as CTA, is the operator of mass transit within the City of Chicago, Illinois and some of its surrounding suburbs....
and New York City MTA
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York)
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York is a public benefit corporation responsible for public transportation in the U.S...
tested the DesignLine ECOSaver IV hybrid bus in 2007 (the latter ended up ordering EcoSaver IV buses; but the order was canceled.). Banff is now the only 100% hybrid transit fleet in North America. The DesignLine bus nearly doubles the fuel efficiency of a 40 foot bus, compared against traditional diesel vehicles.
These vehicles were introduced in 1998 on the Shuttle zero-fare inner-city bus in Christchurch, New Zealand
Public transport in Christchurch
Public transport in Christchurch, New Zealand consists of bus services operated by three bus companies supported by a ferry, all jointly marketed as Metro.-Overview:...
, first as diesel hybrids, and then as gas-turbine hybrids in 2000. After trials in Japan in conjunction with The Tokyo Electric Power Company
The Tokyo Electric Power Company
, also known as or TEPCO, is an electric utility servicing Japan's Kantō region, Yamanashi Prefecture, and the eastern portion of Shizuoka Prefecture. This area includes Tokyo...
, they have found export markets in Japan (2003), Hong Kong (2003), and in Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear is a metropolitan county in north east England around the mouths of the Rivers Tyne and Wear. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972...
, England for the QuayLink
QuayLink
Quaylink is a bus service in Tyne and Wear, England, operated by Go North East under contract to Newcastle and Gateshead Councils and Nexus....
operations.
Products
DesignLine Corporation markets the following buses. The EcoSaver IV model in the United States is not the same as the EcoSaver IV model marketed outside the United States, as noted in the table.DesignLine buses are manufactured in New Zealand for left-hand traffic markets, and the United States for right-hand traffic markets.
| Model name | Photo | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand |
||
| EcoSmart I |
|
||
| EcoSaver IV | Euro IV | .jpg) |
Hybrid electric bus A hybrid electric bus combines a conventional internal combustion engine propulsion system with an electric propulsion system. These type of buses normally use a diesel-electric powertrain and are also known as hybrid diesel-electric buses.... and all-combustion (non-hybrid) configurations available
Scania Scania AB Scania Aktiebolag , commonly referred to as Scania AB or just Scania, is a major Swedish automotive industry manufacturer of commercial vehicles - specifically heavy trucks and buses... or MAN chassis |
| Olymbus | EcoSaver IV |
available
|
|
| Euro V |  |
available
|
|
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.United States
Future operators- San Diego, CACaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
- Los Angeles
- Arlington, VAVirginiaThe Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
- Denver, COColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
- Palmdale, CA
New Zealand
- AucklandAucklandThe Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
- NZ Bus
- North Star
- GO WEST
- Metrolink
- Waka Pacific
- Birkenhead Transport
- Richies
- Howick and Eastern
- AIRBUS EXPRESS
- Urban Express
- NZ Bus
- ChristchurchChristchurchChristchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
- Leopard CoachlinesLeopard CoachlinesLeopard Coachlines is a bus service in Christchurch, New Zealand, with a depot in Auckland. They operate Metro routes for Environment Canterbury, Charter services to Mt Hutt ski field for schools and groups...
- Red Bus Ltd
- Go Bus ChristchurchGo Bus Christchurch-Routes:Go Bus Christchurch operate all routes previously operated by Christchurch Bus Services under the Metro brand:-Vehicles:...
- Leopard Coachlines
- DunedinDunedinDunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
- Citibus
- Passenger TransportPassenger Transport (New Zealand)Invercargill Passenger Transport Ltd is a bus company which operates public transport routes and school transport services in Dunedin and Invercargill and leisure and tourism transport services throughout New Zealand.-Public transport services:Passenger Transport operates almost all public...
- HamiltonHamilton, New ZealandHamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
- HastingsHastings, New ZealandThe city of Hastings is a major urban settlement in the Hawke's Bay region of the North Island of New Zealand, and it is the largest settlement by population in Hawke's Bay. Hastings city is the administrative centre of the Hastings District...
and NapierNapier, New ZealandNapier is a New Zealand city with a seaport, located in Hawke's Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island. The population of Napier is about About 18 kilometres south of Napier is the inland city of Hastings. These two neighboring cities are often called "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities"... - Palmerston NorthPalmerston NorthPalmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
- WellingtonWellingtonWellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
- GO Wellington
Other countries
- Tokyo, Japan
- Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom
- StagecoachStagecoach in NewcastleStagecoach in Newcastle is a bus company and division of Stagecoach North East. Stagecoach in Newcastle is the biggest Stagecoach division in the North East and is one of the 3 major bus operators in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne alongside Arriva North East and Go North East, largely providing...
- Stagecoach
External links
- DesignLine USA
- ECOSaver IV Hybrid Electric BusHybrid electric busA hybrid electric bus combines a conventional internal combustion engine propulsion system with an electric propulsion system. These type of buses normally use a diesel-electric powertrain and are also known as hybrid diesel-electric buses....
.