Top 10 Features For Your Shuttle Bus Conversion
Shuttle vans, mobility shuttles, and shuttle buses provides the perfect solution for transporting a large number of for an improved ride for all on- board. Each shuttle bus is well-equipped with multi-passenger coach seating with various features to provide relaxing environment.
Commercially, these vehicles are utilized by a number of industries such as universities, banks, corporations, limousine companies, fleet managers, retail stores, shopping centers, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, airports, hotels, and other businesses. High-end shuttles provide a discreet and luxurious interior for transporting key employees and business partners to various locations and other corporate outings. On the other hand, shuttle vans and paratransit vans with a wheelchair lift installed tend to be utilized more by families as a cost effective and efficient solution for transporting family members for long road trips.
Whether you own or operate a shuttle bus for business or personal purposes, you can be sure that this results in various environmental benefits such as fewer parking spots taken up and less crowding on urban streets, as well as usage of less fuel.
With that all that mentioned let’s take a look at our list of the top 8 best amenities / features to include within your shuttle van conversion, in no particular order…
1: Overhead Bulkhead Cabinet with TV Display with Front Speakers
All of us can attest that TV is one of the best accessories for killing time and relaxing, as hours can seem like minutes when we are engaged in our favorite series or movies. A bulkhead overhead cabinet ensures optimal viewing angles for all passengers on board, as the TV display is elevated and centered. The 32-inch TV display and front speakers are vital components for shuttles buses utilized by touring / outdoor event firms, limousine companies, hotels, airports and rehabilitation to keep passengers occupied during their commutes.
2: PA System
A staple for conversions for tour buses, event shuttles and airport / hotel shuttle buses, a PA system provides a means of communication between the passenger and driver cabins without the need of speaking in front of passengers or echoing their natural voice. This ensures that all passengers, regardless of where seated have the ability to listen to any key announcements or information provided mid transit.
3: USB and Electrical Outlets
With the omnipresence of our black mirrored mobile devices accessible at a moment’s notice, ensuring that all of these are charged throughout our daily routines is becoming more and more burdensome. As our electrical devices become increasingly innovative, battery life seems to be a recurring and stagnant issue as we purchase portable chargers and hoard wires with us to ensure we have enough juice to make it through our day. USB and electrical outlets allow for patrons to charge all their of devices from their comfort of their seat with just the need of a cable and no charging port, unless necessary.
4: AC Outlets with Reading Lights
Often bundled with overhead luggage racks, AC outlets with LED reading lights provide individual amenities operable by each passenger, which allow patrons to increase / decrease the pressure of the air conditioning and have lighting source available for reading a book / magazine or doing work from a laptop. While these are considered to be standard features within commercial buses, these are optional components within a shuttle vans as some builds prefer to feature LED lighting throughout the cabin, rather than offering it to each individual seat based upon preference.
5: Wheelchair Lift
More and more commercial, state and federal jurisdictions are adopting mandates and other regulations that are pushing for all shuttles buses and related vehicles to be handicap accessible. With a number of licensed and accredited products from BraunAbility and NMEDA, HQ offers various different kinds of wheelchair lifts ranging from UVL to interior lifts such as the Millennium or Century series. Installing a wheelchair is easier than ever, as these can be installed at either the sliding door entrance or at the rear of the van.
6: Plug Door Entrance
While the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and the Ford Transit come standard with a sliding door entrance to the passenger cabin, the inclusion of this door can be rather restricting in the amount of seating available. For those seeking to maximize their interior space within the passenger cabin, a plug door provides an innovative alternative due to the fact, as patrons enter and exit the vehicle in a smooth fashion from the driver cabin at a single location. For those in search of a shuttle conversion that is more oriented towards that of busing, a plug door is an exterior component to put careful consideration into.
7: Emergency Window and Hatch
If a shuttle bus or related build is implemented on a 3500 Mercedes Sprinter chassis (with super singles 10140 GVWR and over) or on larger Ford Transit chassis, an emergency window and ceiling hatch are required, as per DOT regulations. While not required for smaller sized vehicle chassis, these are still rather popular components to be included, not for their immediate utility, but rather for the peace of mind granted in case any sort of accident or emergency occurs.
8: Luggage Racks
Often seen as the alternative to having dedicated trunk space, luggage racks provide an optimal method for passengers to store and have access to their belongings mid commute. This offers peace of mind for passengers and fleet managers as there is prone to be less incidences of lost items and avoid the hassle for drivers. Most luggage racks come with AC outlets and LED reading lights a whole unit, which should be considered when selecting options for your build.
9: European Style Curtains
A trademark of shuttles buses found around European and some Asian countries is their curtains that serve as a bit of embroidery and alternative to dull shades found in more economy class buses. These are sure to add a touch of elegance to the passenger cabin that can be coordinated with seating color to match each other.
10: Cabin Wi-Fi
For anyone that is not looking to catching up on some sleep, watch TV, or talk you are probably surfing the web with your phone or laptop to kill the time when riding a shuttle bus. With a cabin Wi-Fi router, passengers can allows to be preoccupied on their phones without fear of overusing their data plans as they ride in ultimate comfort!
With such benefits and numerous others there are various different reasons to for a shuttle bus conversion to be the optimal solution to your individual or firm’s traveling needs. While these builds are might be appear similar, there exterior are important in distinguishing specialized usage. It is important to keep in mind usage when choosing amenities and other options for your build as each component might have different scale in mind when adjusting for budget and purpose.
As you can see, even the shortest trips in a newly converted shuttle van have the ability to leave a lasting and positive impression to bring back satisfied customers. At HQ Custom Design, we offer a comprehensive range of shuttle van amenities and floor plans. You can be sure to find the perfect fit and finish that matches your preferences and standards.
If you are interested to explore more custom shuttle van conversion amenities, feel free to browse through our galleries here. You can also call our office at 201-592-6939 or email us at info@hqcustomdesign.com to schedule a consultation.