Filed under: Hoglund Bus, Hoglunds, Holiday Hours, Iowa, Mark Your Calendars, Minnesota
Both of our locations, Monticello and Marshalltown, will be closed on Thursday, November 26th for the Thanksgiving holiday. We will resume normal hours on Friday the 27th.
Hoglund Bus Company recently hosted their annual Open House, focusing on great food, customer training, and customer interaction with both vendors and the Hoglund Team.
Each year, this event continues to grow, through cooperative efforts from Hoglund’s managers, office staff, and sales teams, who all promote the event through direct mail personal visits, and calls before the event; along with participation from loyal vendors.
-Dealer Update United State IC Bus – Oct. 30 2009
The MSBOA Newsletter had a nice article about the hybrid bus we had at our Open House. Just click on the link below to read it.
Filed under: Doug Erdmann, Hoglund Bus, Hoglunds, Jason Anderson, Marc Steele, NAPT
Hoglund Bus hosted a customer appreciation dinner on November 3 during NAPT. The dinner was held at the Bristol Bar and Grille. The Mustang picture is an example of all of the statues that were around Louisville, KY. A great time was had by all!
Filed under: Brian Lynch, Commercial Buses, Diamond Coach, Don Stull, Doug Erdmann, Evan Saxton-Williams, Hoglund Bus, Hoglunds, Jason Anderson, Marc Steele, Open House, Randy Johnson, Tom Van Sloun
Just a couple of pictures from our Open House, which was held on October 7. If you missed it, you missed a great Vendor Show and a wonderful lunch provided by Diamond Coach!
Filed under: Green, Hoglund Bus, Hybrid, IC, Mark Your Calendars, Minnesota, Open House, Training
Hoglund Bus would like to invite you to see and drive our new IC Conventional Electric Hybrid. This bus will be in Minnesota, at our Monticello location on 10/7 with a training class scheduled and a ride and drive to follow. The presentation will begin at 1:00 p.m. by Keith Kladder, Marketing Manager, IC Bus. If you are concerned with your carbon footprint or high diesel costs, come find out what our bus has to offer. Lunch will be provided and other exciting things happening, as this is happening during our Open House, call Linda at 763-271-2952 to get registered and find out what else we have to offer.
Filed under: Arboc Spirit of Mobility, Braun, Commercial Buses, Diamond Coach, Espar Heater, Exide, Fleetguard, Glaval, Hankook Tires, Hoglund Bus, Hoglunds, IC, International, Mark Your Calendars, Minnesota, Open House, Parts, Ricon, Training, Trucks, Turtle Top
You’re Invited!!
Hoglund’s Annual Open House – Wednesday, October 7th from 11am to 2pm.
The Open House will be held in our new service bays!
Place a parts order of $100 or more during the Open House and be entered to win 1 of 5 $100 gift cards!
BBQ provided by Diamond Coach
Register to Win - TV, Pressure Washer, Gift Cards, Apparel, Jewelry, and much more!
Vendors that will be attending include:
IC Sales, International, International Finance, Arboc Mobility, Allison, Braun, Carrier, Champion Bus, CMI Fabrics, Collins/Mid Bus, Diamond Coach, Dupont, Espar, Exide, Freedman Seating, Fleetguard, Hoglund Body and Equipment, IC Parts and Service, International Renewed, Authorized Transmission Remanufacturing, Glaval, Haldex/Midland, Hankook Tire, Koroseal, NCS, Pomp’s Tire, Premire Bank, Q-Straint, REI, Ricon, Rosco, SKF, Sure-Lok, Trans/Air Mfg. Co., Translite, Truck Utilities Mfg. Co., Turtle Top, Ventech and more!
Training Seminars:
11:00 – 12:00 Parts Catalog Online*
12:00 – 1:00 IC Hybrid Technology
1:00 – 2:00 Hands-On Training with Doug Yager (Tech Helpline Specialist)
1:00 – 2:00 Navistar Financial
* Attend and enter to win a Nintendo Wii Bundle
Call to register at 763-295-5119
Filed under: Commercial Buses, Hoglund Bus, Hybrid, Scott Gretsch, Turtle Top
One local company’s hybrid vehicles have been drawing the attention of government entities across the country.
Turtle Top Inc., a New Paris-based specialty vehicle manufacturer, hosted Hoglund Bus Co. representative Scott Gretsch this week. Gretsch was checking on an order he helped to coordinate for 15 hybrid buses for Metro Mobility, a regional transportation service for people unable to use fixed-route buses due to disabilities or health conditions. The service is administered by the Metropolitan Council of Minnesota. Metro Mobility’s fleet manager accompanied Gretsch on the trip.
“This order has been in the making for quite some time,” Gretsch said. “It was placed this spring, and the reason that Metro Mobility chose Turtle Top is just because of their high quality.”
He also pointed to what he saw as a pioneering aspect of the purchase.
“It’s one of the first orders of that size, if not the first made for hybrid buses in the country,” Gretsch said.
While visiting the plant he and the fleet manager performed pilot inspections on the buses under construction.
Interest tied to fuel cost Turtle Top Vice President Phil Tom said he is happy about the order, but not surprised. “We’ve been working on the deal for a while,” Tom said. “We’re also building a hybrid vehicle for the state of Florida.”
Tom explained that while interest in the company’s products was high when fuel was topping $4 per gallon, as the price dropped, so did that interest. So over the last two years, the company has been working on its hybrid program, not only prototyping and testing, but exposing the products to large vehicle fleets, the federal government and several car rental agencies.
“There is definitely interest at all the various levels. I think people are just trying to get themselves educated and see if it would work for them and their duty cycles,” Tom said. “The strongest interest level definitely has been with municipalities and government at the state level. Hotel shuttles, the limousine market, those segments really aren’t interested, at least at this time.”
Turtle Tops’ new hybrid vehicles require more construction lead time than its normal buses, and take about 120 days to be built and shipped. Part of that time increase is due to the chassis required by the hybrid systems. Each chassis has to be special ordered.
Another option
In addition to hybrid systems, Turtle Top also offers a bi-fuel system that runs on liquid propane and gasoline, as well as a compressed natural gas system. Tom said company officials have been in conversations with a company offering a liquid propane injection system that runs exclusively on propane.
“We’re working with a lot of different types of technology these days when it comes to alternative fuels, and we try to provide our clients with a system that works best for their individual segment as well as help improve our environment,” Tom said.
One such new development is a pollution-control technology coming out in 2010. The system scrubs the exhaust in a diesel vehicle.
“Once it’s done with the conversion, the air coming in the front will be dirtier than the air coming out of the tailpipe,” Tom said.
By Jesse Davis THE GOSHEN NEWS NEW PARIS
Filed under: Don Stull, Doug Erdmann, Hoglund Bus, Hoglunds, Iowa, Iowa School Transportation Conference, Parts
Some pictures from the Iowa School Transportation Conference in Des Moines. The conference was held July 20 – 23. Thanks to everyone who attended. We had a great time!
Filed under: Commercial Buses, Green, Hoglund Bus, Hybrid, Minnesota, Turtle Top
OAK PARK, MI, July 22 /CNW/ – Azure Dynamics Corporation (TSX: AZD – News) – (“Azure”) or (the “Company”), a leading developer of state-of-the-art green technologies that address environmental and cost issues for the commercial transportation industry, today announced a partnership with Turtle Top, a leading body manufacturer specializing in small to mid-sized buses and specialty vehicles. The agreement provides Turtle Top customers and dealers the opportunity to select Azure’s Balance(TM) Hybrid Electric drivetrain system on the Ford E-450 chassis.
“Although the relationship with Turtle Top is relatively new, it has already brought us success,” said Jay Sandler, Azure Dynamics Vice President of Sales. “Our recent 15 unit sale to Metro Mobility was a collaborative effort among Azure, Turtle Top and Hoglund Bus, a dealership in Monticello, Minnesota. Together, we can create the ideal transportation solution to meet and exceed customers’ needs.”
“Turtle Top has worked aggressively in the production and distribution of environmentally friendly vehicles over the past several years,” said Phil Tom, Vice President of Sales for Turtle Top. “Customers are demanding alternative energy sources to comply with anti-idle regulations and fuel efficiency standards. Our partnership with Azure Dynamics will allow us to offer the fuel efficient and environmentally friendly products that customers are demanding.”
With its electric-launch assist, engine-off at idle and regenerative braking, the Azure Balance(TM) Hybrid Electric is ideally suited for the tough start and stop conditions endured by shuttle buses. As a result, Turtle Top customers who select the Balance(TM) Hybrid Electric can expect up to 40% improvement in fuel economy and up to 30% reduction in maintenance costs. Importantly, the hybrid drive train also reduces greenhouse emissions by up to 30% thereby reducing the owner’s carbon footprint and improving air quality.
With the addition of Turtle Top, Azure has now partnered with seven of the leading bus body manufacturers in the US and Canada. Additionally, Azure has partnered with 27 Ford commercial truck dealerships in key markets across North America. These partnerships give Azure significant market presence and expanded sales and service capabilities.
Turtle Top began manufacturing automotive products in 1962 and is well known in the automotive industry for its quality, service, longevity and integrity. Turtle Top’s facility is located in New Paris, Indiana.
For more information about Azure Dynamics and its products, please visit www.azuredynamics.com.
About Azure Dynamics
Azure Dynamics Corporation (TSX: AZD – News) is a world leader in the development and production of hybrid electric and electric components and powertrain systems for commercial vehicles. Azure is strategically targeting the commercial delivery vehicle and shuttle bus markets and is currently working internationally with various partners and customers. The Company is committed to providing customers and partners with innovative, cost-efficient, and environmentally-friendly energy management solutions. For more information please visit www.azuredynamics.com.
