DesignLine Corporation, a company dedicated to manufacturing cleaner, more efficient transit vehicles recently signed a $30 million joint venture agreement with Liberty Automotive.
The companies will collaborate on UAE production facility in Abu Dhabi, a recognized leader in the application of green technology. The new facility is scheduled for opening before the year ends.
In a press release, company officials revealed that the new facility will have a capacity of producing 300 buses annually. Revenue for its first year has been projected in excess of $80 million. The project is expected to boost up the job markets in Charlotte, N. C. and Christchurch, New Zealand.
Under the venture, DesignLine Corporation will produce 30-, 35- and 40-foot zero emission, ALL-ELECTRIC/Hybrid buses, which reportedly have a strong market demands.
The DesignLine proprietary software vehicle management system will be supplied by DesignLine USA and DesignLine R&D NZ, the company revealed.
The production is estimated to more than double its current workforce both in the USA and New Zealand.
The company said that the impact of these sustainable jobs will be felt particularly throughout the Mecklenburg region of North Carolina and the Canterbury region of New Zealand. Both locations will focus on adding high tech, full-time positions within the rapidly expanding clean energy sector.
According to DesignLine, its HYBRID vehicles produce 65 percent – 80 percent fewer emissions than the competition. Using a Capstone (News - Alert) 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, the company informed.
UAE is in 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, the company revealed.
Madhubanti Rudra is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.
Edited by
Janice McDuffee
