Equipmake has completed the repower of a 12-strong fleet of mid-life Optare Versa EV battery-electrics in the First York fleet, with all those vehicles having returned to service.
Unlike other repowers thus far, the task with the Versa EVs saw the original battery-electric powertrain removed and replaced with Equipmake’s own driveline. That includes a 274kWh battery capacity which the supplier says delivers a range of 150 miles “in all UK weather conditions.”
Completion of the work follows a successful trial of an initial prototype conversion that re-entered service with the operator around a year ago. It allowed teams at First York and the supplier to evaluate its performance and make any adjustments necessary on subsequent vehicles.
First York Engineering Manager Stuart Eyre notes that work on the Versa EVs is “an important step in our transition to achieving a fully electric fleet in York, continuing to help improve air quality in the city and supporting the goal of First Bus nationally to have a zero-emission fleet by 2035.”
The repowered buses sit alongside a large delivery of new Wrightbus battery-electric models, with only a handful of residual diesel-powered buses still in service with First Bus in York at the time of writing.
Equipmake CEO Ian Foley says that the engineering company is pleased that all 12 of the Versa EV repowers are now back in service and running successfully.
“This is fantastic news for passengers and the people of York, making a significant contribution to local air quality. For operators, repowering existing buses offers an excellent opportunity to achieve zero-emission targets while making significant cost savings in parallel.”
Equipmake adds that its repower offering suits vehicles of varying sizes, including single- and double-deckers. It utilises lithium-ion batteries and the supplier’s patented thermal management system, which maintains the battery pack, inverter and motor at optimum operating temperature to maximise range.
