Hybrid, Electric Buses $30M JV Announced

A new production facility in Abu Dhabi that will specialize in zero emission all-electric buses is currently under construction, thanks to a $30 million joint venture between the DesignLine Corporation and Liberty Automotive. The DesignLine UAE production facility will open prior to year's end with a capacity of 300 buses annually and projected revenue for its first year in excess of $80 million.

With increased requests for 30', 35' and 40' Hybrid/Electric buses, DesignLine expects the resulting employment opportunities to more than double its current workforce in both Charlotte, North Carolina and Christchurch, New Zealand.

“Renown as the world leader in the application of green technology, the United Arab Emirates enters its second year of utilizing the zero emission DesignLine all-electric buses. Other Middle Eastern countries are actively negotiating with DesignLine to convert their diesel transit fleets to either all-electric or hybrid vehicles,” a company statement reads.

The DesignLine hybrid vehicles produce 65 percent - 80 percent less emissions than the competition.  Using a Capstone turbine generator, available in a 65kW or 30kW size, with the DesignLine proprietary software and hybrid control system, the DesignLine vehicle is able to operate in a zero emission mode for up to 40 percent of the day.

“Currently hybrid buses are predominant in North America and electric buses in the Middle East, however the ever increasing hybrid/electric market requests span from North America to the Middle East,” the statement continued.

Additionally, DesignLine Corporation is projecting to build in excess of 300 hybrid and electric buses over the next 24 months, alone.