32 Wrightbus StreetDeck double-deckers in First Bus fleets will be repowered to battery-electric by the OEM’s NewPower business in a first stage of that partnership, it has been confirmed.
The operator has worked with Wrightbus on NewPower from the outset of that Bicester-based undertaking, with a number of its diesel StreetDecks forming part of the launch of the repower work. Two of them have been completed successfully and 30 more conversions have now been ordered by the operator.
All work will be done in Bicester and the 32 buses will enter service “over the next few months” in Aberdeen, Leeds, Leicester, Norwich and Portsmouth. One of the seed pair has already been route trialled in Sheffield prior to delivery to its eventual home of Leicester. A First Bus spokesperson notes that all of the Wrightbus StreetDeck repowers from this order will utilise existing electric charging infrastructure in the locations noted.
Wrightbus NewPower says that the conversion can extend the vehicle’s lifespan by up to 10 years, with each bus completed in as little as three weeks. The process includes removal of the engine, gearbox, fuel tank, radiator and other components before installation of batteries and the electric drive system. Old diesel parts are reused, the supplier says.
Wrightbus describes the deal for 32 buses as an “initial order.” CEO Jean-Marc Gales notes that it represents an extension of the manufacturer’s work with First Bus on zero-emission vehicles.
“By using the expertise of our 1,800-strong Wrightbus workforce – including our master technicians – NewPower has unrivalled expertise in being able to swap powertrains. Once back in service, the repowered buses will have an immediate impact on reducing pollution and improving air quality in the towns and cities in which they operate.”
Adds First Bus Decarbonisation Programme Director Faizan Ahmad: “We are thrilled to place an order for an additional 30 repowered buses and to continue our collaboration with Wrightbus on this exciting project.
“We have partnered with the NewPower team from the outset of this initiative and are proud to be a driving force in the zero-emission space once again with another innovative solution.
“We are committed to achieving a fully electric bus fleet by 2035, and repower technology has the potential to be a real gamechanger in helping us to reach that goal as well as benefiting the wider bus industry as we work to decarbonise the sector.”
