CLIENT PROFILE
Organization: City and County of Honolulu Paratransit Services
Fleet Size: 230 vehicles total, with 164 equipped with LiquidSpring®
Daily Service: Approximately 2,500-3,500 passenger pickups per day
Contact: Bobby Wallace, Fleet Manager
LiquidSpring® Since: February 2017
CHALLENGE
The City and County of Honolulu’s paratransit fleet operates in some of the most challenging road conditions in the United States. Constant construction projects, including a long-running rail development, have left roads in poor condition with frequent patches and uneven surfaces. This environment was causing:
- Significant passenger discomfort, particularly in the rear seats
- Frequent passenger injuries from vehicle jolts and bouncing
- Reported head injuries from passengers hitting ceiling fixtures
- Accelerated vehicle wear, including suspension components
- Rapid tire wear, especially on front wheels
- Higher maintenance costs across the fleet
- Passenger complaints about ride quality
As Bobby Wallace noted, “Hawaii is always under some kind of road construction. We have the worst roads in the nation. Everything’s patched up. It’s bad.”
SOLUTION
In February 2017, the City and County of Honolulu began equipping their E-450 paratransit vehicles with LiquidSpring® suspension systems. The agency has since expanded implementation to 164 vehicles in its 230-vehicle fleet, representing a significant commitment to the technology.
LiquidSpring’s active suspension technology utilizes:
- Onboard microprocessor monitors speed, steering, braking, and road inputs 1,000 times per second
- Liquid-based strut and secondary volume that dynamically changes spring stiffness
- Five-link suspension maintains alignment and minimizes vibration
- Automatic load-leveling capability
RESULTS
The LiquidSpring® implementation has delivered quantifiable benefits across multiple operational metrics:
1. Reduced Maintenance Costs
- 33% lower cost per mile: Vehicles with LiquidSpring average $0.83 per mile in maintenance costs compared to $1.24 per mile for traditional suspension vehicles
- Dramatic reduction in suspension-related issues, including complete elimination of leaf spring bracket failures that were common on non-LiquidSpring units
2. Significant Tire Savings
- Front tire replacement rate is nearly 2:1 better on vehicles equipped with LiquidSpring
- Improved wheel alignment stability and reduced road shock contribute to extended tire life
3. Remarkable Fuel Efficiency Improvements
- One 27-vehicle fleet with LiquidSpring showed $33,540 in monthly fuel costs compared to $43,598 for a comparable non-LiquidSpring fleet—a $10,000 monthly savings
- These savings translate to a projected annual fuel cost reduction of $120,000 for just this portion of the fleet
- Fleet management attributes this to improved vehicle stability, allowing for more consistent driving speeds and less brake/throttle adjustment
4. Enhanced Passenger Safety
- Complete elimination of passenger injuries related to sudden vehicle movements
- No further reports of passengers hitting their heads on ceiling fixtures
- Elimination of shoulder and neck injuries previously caused by vehicle jolt
- Improved wheelchair lift stability, preventing the unsettling tilt that occurs with traditional suspension
5. Superior Passenger Experience
- Passengers actively notice the difference, with many commenting when they transfer from non-LiquidSpring-equipped state vehicles to the city’s LiquidSpring fleet
- Passengers with mobility issues report feeling more secure, particularly during wheelchair lift operation
CUSTOMER TESTIMONIAL
“Just great experience with LiquidSpring all the way around. In the past, we used to have a lot of injuries. People would actually hit their head on the AC unit because of the choke that rear suspension gives. With LiquidSpring, that doesn’t happen at all.
We used to get complaints of shoulder injuries, neck injuries, people falling out of the seats, falling forward. Those are all based off of the comfort of the vehicle. We don’t have that anymore.
Initial investment always seems so much more expensive, but it’s one of those things where once you have it, you don’t want to let it go.”
— Bobby Wallace, Fleet Manager, City and County of Honolulu Paratransit Services
FUTURE OUTLOOK
Based on the positive experience with rear LiquidSpring systems, Bobby confirms his intention to continue adding LiquidSpring to the fleet as budgets allow. He says the decision to implement the technology is a clear success for both operational efficiency and passenger experience.
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