Clean Vehicles Sought Worldwide – New Advances For Designline

Christchurch’s Electric Shuttle wins Resource Management Award Successfully operating now for almost two years, the designline Electric Shuttle has just been named joint overall winner of the Canterbury Resource Management Awards 2000. The judges said the low emission buses are part of an integrated approach to addressing significant urban transport issues and have application in other cities, both in New Zealand and overseas.

Pilot vehicle to be tested in Hong Kong This was immediately proven when Mrs Anson Chan, Chief Secretary of Hong Kong visited Christchurch a few days later. The first item on her list of interests was clean transport. Environmental protection has been a priority in Hong Kong for the past two years. The city is determined to improve its air quality.

Mrs Chan wanted to promote partnerships between NZ manufacturers and distributors in Hong Kong. However, local manufacturer designline is way ahead. The company has just signed a licensing agreement with Associated e-Power Limited, a member of the Associated Engineers Group (AEL), Hong Kong to market and support the electric vehicles there. After trialling fully built up vehicles this company may import designline drive systems for use in local manufacture.

Ms Lilian Chan, Director and General Manager of Associated e-Power Limited, flew out especially to meet the Chief Secretary on the vehicle, showing real commitment to the partnership with designline. The first electric vehicle will now be piloted in Hong Kong early next year, with the blessing of the Chief Secretary.

Mrs Chan rode on the designline Electric Shuttle. She and her party were impressed with its smooth ride, the lack of noise and polluting emissions and its user friendliness.

Electric Shuttle now proven on normal routes The views of the party from Hong Kong echo the opinion of Christchurch passengers. A free electric vehicle trial to and from the city on the Papanui/Harewood Route Number 1, in October 2000 showed that the vehicle is suitable for normal routes and that the level of passenger acceptance is astounding.

Although this service was used in addition to the normal Number 1 service, customers were ringing Red Bus for timetable information. They wanted to be sure to catch the Electric Shuttle. A total of 177 passengers took part in a survey. Most of those surveyed travel regularly on the same bus route, 42 percent daily, and 32 percent once or twice weekly.

As many as 95% said Low Emission Transportation is an important factor in public transport; 99% said more electric vehicles should be introduced. When asked about the vehicle, 98% said the noise level is significantly lower while 96% said the comfort level is superior to normal vehicles.

They also said: "We love its healthy, futuristic feel." "It’s such fun to ride." "It’s so comfortable we don’t want to get off." "It’s user friendly – easy to get on and off with good, wide doors." "Electric vehicles are the best thing for the city…definitely the way to go. Well done, Christchurch!"

Strong appeal for tourists A number of those surveyed were tourists from Papanui Road motels. They wanted to see an Electric Shuttle back home.

Electric vehicles planned for Japan
Electric vehicles are certainly going back home for those from Japan. This will happen with the support of Mitsui, the large Japanese trading house that will represent designline internationally, committing resources to sales and marketing. Interest is high within the international bus community in licensing the manufacturing rights.

Further proof that the Electric Vehicle is in the forefront of public transport technology has come from the Tokyo Power Authority who in November 2000 showcased a Shuttle at the Yokohama Vehicle Show. The Yokohama City Council will also be shown the vehicle. Firm orders are expected for built-up electric vehicles to replace diesel in parts of the Japanese transport system. It is possible that 60 may be used during the Football World Cup in March 2002. In the longer term, designline will sell drive systems for use with locally manufactured bus bodies.

Realistic Solution to Modern Environmental Transport Problems Governments worldwide are committed to reducing greenhouse gases. Much pollution is caused by vehicle emissions and can be reduced by getting people out of cars and on to public transport. The answer has to be developing green transport solutions that are attractive to the public.

Higher initial cost offset by lower running costs designline has lifted the whole image of public transport with its Electric Shuttle, encouraging more people to take the bus. designline’s solution is commercially realistic. While the initial capital cost is higher, service costs are estimated to be as much as 70% lower than for diesel vehicles. Running costs are lower: the Capstone Turbine is air-cooled and uses no oil; regenerative braking eliminates the cost of brake pad replacements. Costs reduce further with the overnight charging of batteries from off peak power supply. Capstone estimates fuel efficiency is 40 to 50% higher than conventional vehicles.

Increasing sales will mean decreasing capital costs As the electric vehicles are sold throughout the world over the next two years, capital costs will reduce. With capital costs the same as diesel vehicles, the enthusiastic passenger response that we saw on the Papanui/Harewood Route Number 1 in Christchurch will drive market demand.

To read more about this innovative New Zealand company go to:

Modular Manufacturing – designline Is A World Leader Christchurch Shuttle Passengers Exceed One Million designline Vehicles Turning More And More People Into Passengers The Christchurch Shuttle Christchurch Shuttle Passengers Exceed One Million Zero Emission Electric Buses