As the price of fuel continues to rise, the need for solid public transportation continues to grow stronger, and Charlotte, N.C.-based DesignLine International is more than ready to meet this demand with its line of advanced-design buses. Since its inception in 1985, the company has developed and supplied to the market advanced-design buses utilizing a broad spectrum of propulsion systems. DesignLine’s market-leading approach has now culminated in its position to supply the worldwide market with the most technologically advanced and service-proven hybrid electric coaches, buses and specialty vehicles, CEO Brad Glosson says.

The company’s currently has U.S. and overseas manufacturing facilities located in Charlotte, N.C., and Ashburton, New Zealand, allowing DesignLine to service its global customer base.

“With our global presence, the sun never sets on the operations of DesignLine,” Glosson declares. “We look forward to the many days ahead where our superior performance, design and technology will maintain our position at the forefront of passenger transport development.

“We have seen many competitors come and go over our decades in business,” Glosson adds.

“But, the foundation of DesignLine’s success is in our innovative designs, cost competitiveness and high quality.”

Innovative Design
All DesignLine vehicles are designed for maximum fuel efficiency, with reduced emissions. “In fact, our hybrid buses can operate in zero-emission mode for a significant portion of each operating day, which results in our hybrid vehicle producing less than half of the emissions that are produced by our closest competitor in the same operation,” Senior Vice President of Engineering Don Makarius explains.

“Even when our auxiliary power unit engages, the emissions from a DesignLine bus are substantially reduced over other hybrid systems, simply because DesignLine expended the additional time and money necessary to craft a system that can power a heavy-duty vehicle with a spectrum of hyper-efficient APUs, such as a small 30 kilowatt turbine or a simple four-cylinder internal combustion engine,” Makarius continues.

“With DesignLine as a manufacturing partner, public transport can be reliable and sustainable, while also remaining environmentally friendly and energy efficient.”

Only the Best
The company uses only proven components from “the world’s best suppliers, such as Chart Industries, Parker Hannafin, Capstone, Caterpillar, ZF and Alcan,” Purchasing Manager Jim Bishop says.

“These top-tier components are consistent with the quality DesignLine requires in its manufacturing process – a process that has been refined to construct transit buses to approximate automotive tolerances.”

DesignLine Advantage
DesignLine’s first hybrid-electric vehicle was developed more than 15 years ago with the first field tests of its MK-1 HEV bus. “With the recent introduction of the MK-IV, DesignLine has produced one of the most-advanced commercial buses in the world, incorporating the latest technology for both system control and driver interface systems,” explains James Gaspard , executive vice president of sales and marketing.

“The MK-IV model has recently performed in head’s up in-service trials against our competitors’ buses in several of the largest cities in the United States, and more than doubled the fuel mileage of our competitor’s offerings in every in-service head’s up trial test undertaken,” Gaspard continues.

“This incredible proven fuel efficiency comes in an advanced technological package that includes a computerized control system which features an automatic battery-management system and user friendly drive controls.

“In addition, the user friendly control system displays all the necessary information on an LED screen that is required by customer’s service employees to maintain the bus in daily operation.

“DesignLine hybrid-electric buses also provide a smoother, quieter ride for passengers,” Gaspard adds.