DesignLines Enhanced Electric Vehicles

DesignLine Corporation announced the results of a multi-year, Enhanced Electric bus, in-service fuel economy and reliability evaluation. During that period, the Charlotte Douglas International Airport DesignLine buses showed increases in fuel economy of up to 41% and maintenance cost reductions up to 93% when compared to the airports traditional diesel buses. In discussions on ground transportation, Jerry Orr, Director of Charlotte Douglas International Airport said, We have long envisioned an environmentally friendly mode of passenger transportation that is more efficient and cheaper to operate than traditional diesel buses. We have identified the unique electric drive system developed by DesignLine as an opportunity to help achieve these goals. The real world operating data captured over the last three years validates our efforts.

It is easy to excel in pristine laboratory or controlled demonstration settings; but the proof of product superiority is earned in real world service. DesignLines Enhanced Electric Vehicles were first delivered to the Charlotte Airport in early 2007 and immediately placed into daily operations. The Airport now operates seven of the DesignLine Enhanced Electric Vehicles in its fleet with more scheduled for delivery. DesignLine would like to acknowledge the commitment of Charlotte Douglas International Airport and its Director, Jerry Orr, to implementing green technologies, stated Brad Glosson, CEO of DesignLine Corporation, From our first meeting, Mr. Orr made it clear that the Airport required vehicles that were cleaner, greener and cheaper to operate than the existing fleet. The results of this multi-year evaluation validates DesignLines fifteen year commitment to R & D which positions DesignLine as the industry leader in all objective measures used to gauge electric and hybrid vehicle performance.

The increased reliability experienced by the Charlotte Airport is a hallmark of the DesignLine electric vehicles. Similar results have been seen in some of the harshest operating environments in the world. DesignLine electric buses excelled in daily service overcoming ambient temperatures in excess of 125 degrees Fahrenheit, high humidity and sand intrusion endemic to the Middle East region, said Duncan Peat, Managing Director of Liberty Automotive in the United Arab Emirates. No other electric vehicle has been able to provide continuous, daily service in our extreme operating conditions. DesignLine electric vehicles are simply the best. The most recent DesignLine Electric Bus will be on display at the Dubai Commercial Vehicle Expo March 14-16.

The DesignLine Enhanced Electric Bus is unique in the transit industry. It is a pure electric vehicle with an on-board range extender used solely to recharge batteries throughout the day. In addition to the fuel and maintenance savings, DesignLines Charlotte Airport buses reduced NOx emissions by 42% and CO emissions by 38% during daily operations according to Mecklenburg Countys Air Quality Division.

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