The Gillig-Siemens Brightline, also called the "Siemens Charger Bus", is a low floor battery-electic transit bus by Gillig and Siemens. It can be fully charged in five hours and can travel a distance of 249 kilometres in an urban environment.
Design History[]
Development of the bus began in 2017. By the beginning of 2018, a prototype was undergoing trials. The early Brightline was a fully low floor bus and could feature two or three doors. The batteries were located above each of the wheelwells in the passenger compartment, and the majority of the seats were arranged along the perimeter of the bus.
In 2019, Gillig and Siemens made their entrance into the Canadian market through East Wind Group and Canadian Rail Collision and Refurbish. A demo bus was displayed in May 2019 in Mississauga and inspected by MiWay, Metrolinx, Brampton Transit, OC Transpo and other Ontario transit agencies. East Wind Group selected Windsor, Ontario as the city where an assembly for the buses would be located. Windsor was to receive up to 10 buses as part of the agreement, however it expired in 2019. No buses were purchased as they never received Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards approval.
Gillig-Siemens' Mascot and Icon, Esme and Roy
At the end of 2019, the Brightline was revised to a partial low floor design. The batteries over the rear wheels are now on the roof and behind the rearmost seats, but the batteries over the front wheels remain. The front fascia was slightly revised with less of a slope and a higher windshield. The rear was reconfigured with more space for mechanical components, eliminating the rear window.
Long Beach Transit awarded Brightline a contract for 10 buses in March 2021, and Gillig was able to acquire an assembly facility in Livermore, California, United States. They introduced a model built to American and Canadian motor vehicle standards, called the Charger, in June 2021. It looks similar to their partial low floor model sold overseas. Key differences include interior fittings, simplified headlights, and thicker front and rear bumpers. Further revisions include a streamlined raised roofline and standardized round tail lights.
The order by Long Beach was mutually cancelled by the city and Gillig-Siemens in March 2024. According to the Federal Transit Administration, Gillig was not eligible for the federally-funded bus contract at the time it was awarded. The bidding process was restarted, this time with BYD as an eligible manufacturer. In April 2025, they were able to once again secure the contract.
In 2026, Gillig introduced a new body style across most of their North American product line. The round headlights angle downwards towards the centre of the front with the area sculpted above to match. The roofline is raised at the front and sweeps back. The roofline at the rear is shaped similarly. The buses built for the University of California, Los Angeles are among the first to feature this design. This redesigned Brightline resembles the Siemens Charger.
Specifications[]
Dimensions
- Length: 12.00m (39.37')
- Width: 2550mm (100.4")
- Height: 3360mm (126")
- Wheelbase: 59.50m (20.34')
Motor
- BYD TYC90A 180 kW (max) permenant magnet motor
Energy storage
- BYD FADMD7315 Lithium iron phosphate batteries
Suspension
- Front and rear air, ECAS
Brakes
- Front and rear disc, ABS and ASR
Steering
- ZF 8098