Environmental Performance Vehicles

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Environmental Performance Vehicles

Type Private

Industry Bus manufacturing

 1985 (as DesignLine)

Founded
 2014 (EPV Corp.)

Founders  John Turton (as DesignLine)

 Tony Luo (EPV Corp.)

Headquarters Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

Area served North America

Owner Wonderland Investment Group

Website epvcorp.com

Environmental Performance Vehicles (EPV), previously 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 Corporation's headquarters was relocated to Charlotte,
North Carolina. Following a bankruptcy in 2013, the assets of DesignLine were sold and the
company was renamed.
EPV 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]

Contents
[hide]

 1Bankruptcy
 2Hybrid vehicle
 3Electric vehicle
 4Coach vehicle
  5Products
 6Usage
o 6.1United States
o 6.2Canada
o 6.3New Zealand
o 6.4Australia
o 6.5Other countries
 7References
 8External links

Bankruptcy[edit]
As DesignLine, it filed for protection under chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Court in
Delaware on August 15, 2013. The case was subsequently transferred to North Carolina. They
employed over 250 people in the city of Charlotte.[3]
Katie Goodman, Managing Partner of GGG Partners, LLC was retained as Chief Restructuring
Officer of the corporation just prior to the filing.
On October 28, 2013, Wonderland Investment Group Inc. acquired most of the assets of DesignLine
in an auction. Several key issues of the bankruptcy - including a class action suit for wrongful
termination by DesignLine employees and the potential termination of a contract with the Denver
Regional Transportation District - are set to be decided on January 14, 2014.[4] Wonderland renamed
the company EPV in January 2014.

Hybrid vehicle[edit]
One key component of the EPV 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.

Electric vehicle[edit]
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. The Société de
Transport de Laval in Quebec, Canada is currently testing the EcoSmart for use in its fleet.

Coach vehicle[edit]
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.
The EcoCoach is also the first 45-foot CNG coach to complete testing at the Altoona Bus Testing
and Research Center.

Products[edit]
DesignLine markets the following buses:

Model Photo Features

 The EcoSmart bus produces no emissions, operates

for a full shift without direct recharging and
captures energy traditionally lost during braking,
returning it to the batteries.
EcoSmart  No proprietary charging infrastructure is required.
 EcoSmart can be produced in 30, 35 and 42 foot
versions.
 All accessories are electrically driven, reducing
energy losses and increasing reliability.

DesignLine Electric Bus

 The EcoSaver uses the electric vehicle drive system

with additional range capabilities provided by a
unique-in-class, on-board micro-turbine generator.
The 65 kW micro-turbine allows for battery
recharge as energy cells are depleted during the
shift. This results in the ability to sustain battery
operation continuously.
 It successfully completed third party "shaker table"
EcoSaver testing with only minor issues evident after 500,000
simulated miles.
 Unlike some hybrid bus systems that include an
internal combustion engine that rely on
DesignLine REEV bus conventional operation as battery capacity is
depleted, the on-board turbine simply recharges the
batteries, making all systems on the EcoSaver all
electric at all times.
 The micro-turbine is powered by CNG or diesel
 (and requires no Urea, after treatment, or expensive
exhaust system).
 The bus has no engine, no transmission, or engine
oil which results in less maintenance and reduced
cost of operation. The micro-turbine has only a
single moving part.
 The EcoSaver is CARB 2010 compliant and meets
2014 CARB emissions levels.
 The DesignLine coach is a high floor, single door
bus powered by either compressed natural gas
(CNG) or diesel fuel.
 The frame is an innovative design using a stainless
steel chassis and aluminum body that reduces
overall vehicle weight and adds to improved fuel
EcoCoach efficiency.
 It features cutting-edge cooling technology from
EMP that allows for superior performance with less
DesignLine EcoCoach bus
maintenance and less power usage, thereby
improving fuel efficiency.
 The bus is Altoona tested (45 foot CNG version)

Usage[edit]
Currently, Designline/EPV buses are used in revenue service in five countries worldwide.[5]
United States[edit]
Current operators

 New Jersey Transit on the 63, 64, 67, and 68 lines between Toms
River, Lakewood, Freehold, Old Bridge, and Newark/Jersey
City/Hoboken.
 RTD, Denver, CO - RTD currently operates two EcoSaver IV
vehicles modified for the 16th Street Mall shuttle. An order for
additional buses was cancelled due to the bankruptcy of
DesignLine.[6]
Canada[edit]

 Société de transport de Laval (1 unit)

New Zealand[edit]

 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
 Tauranga
 Go Bus Transport
 Dunedin
 Ritchies Transport
 Passenger Transport Citibus
 Hamilton
 Hastings and Napier
 Palmerston North
 Wellington
 GO Wellington
 Valley Flyer
Australia[edit]

 Adelaide
 Mackay, Qld
 Melbourne
Other countries[edit]

 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.[7]

References[edit]
1. Jump up^ Steeman, Marta (1 June 2011). "DesignLine liquidation
costs jobs". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
2. Jump up^ STEEMAN, MARTA (23 August 2011). "Malaysians take
stake in bus joint venture". BusinessDay.co.nz. Fairfax New Zealand.
Retrieved 23 August 2011.
3. Jump up^ "Hybrid, electric bus maker files for bankruptcy". USA
Today. 17 August 2013.
4. Jump up^ "Workers' suit, contract dispute drive DesignLine court
hearings on Tuesday".
5. Jump up^ "Ride A DesignLine - DesignLine Corporation". Archived
from the original on 2010-01-29. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
6. Jump up^ Whaley, Monte (22 January 2013). "RTD Approves New
Shuttle Buses for 16th Street Mall". denverpost.com. Retrieved 2
May 2013.
7. Jump up^ [1]
 External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has
media related to DesignLine
International buses.

 Official website
 ECOSaver IV — Hybrid electric bus.

[show]

Bus transport in New Zealand

[show]

North American bus builders

Categories:
 Bus manufacturers
 Motor vehicle manufacturers of New Zealand
 Vehicle manufacturers of the United States
 Electric bus manufacturers
 Hybrid electric bus manufacturers
 Trolleybus manufacturers
 Companies based in Charlotte, North Carolina
 Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1985
 1985 establishments in New Zealand
 2013 disestablishments in New Zealand
 Ashburton, New Zealand
 Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 2014
 2014 establishments in North Carolina
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