The Anonymous Widower

Wrightbus Launches NewPower In Bicester

The title of this post, is the same as that press release from Wrightbus.

This is the sub-heading.

World-leading bus manufacturer Wrightbus today took the wraps off a bold new enterprise designed to replace older diesel engines with new zero-emission electric powertrains.

These three paragraphs from the press release give more details.

NewPower, which has moved into a hi-tech factory in Bicester, Oxfordshire, aims to speed up the decarbonisation process by eradicating diesel powertrains in older fleets at a substantially lower price than a new bus.

Wrightbus becomes the first OEM to offer a re-powering service, utilising the unique skills of its 1,800-strong workforce to swap diesel for electricity. Its master technicians built the original buses and have unrivalled expertise in being able to swap powertrains.

Hailed as affordable decarbonisation, it is hoped that operators with mid-life bus fleets but without the funding for new zero-emission buses can take advantage of the instant sustainability switch.

Note.

1. It appears that Wrightbus, have taken over the new factory of failed electric van manufacturer; Arrival.
2. Converting a bus takes three weeks and six can be handled at one time.
3. This gives the overall capacity to decarbonise five hundred buses per year.

I have some extra information from this article in Sustainable Bus magazine, which is entitled Wrightbus Launches Repowering Programme NewPower In Former Arrival Headquarter.

Which Buses Can Be Converted And How Much Does A Conversion Cost?

This paragraph is from the Sustainable Bus article.

UK trade media Bus & Coach Buyer reports that the new venture “is focused on fitting its tailored electric drivetrain into Streetdeck buses, then tailoring it for Gemini 2, then New Route Master, with plans to then engineer solutions for other common buses, at around £1m per model”.

Note.

1. That is certainly a comprehensive conversion programme.
2. I would assume the million pound per model is the development cost of an engineering package for a fleet of buses.
3. London would get a thousand refurbished zero-carbon New Route Masters.
4. A new double-decker bus can cost between £300,000 to £500,000.

It looks like a programme can be developed, that is profitable for all parties.

July 18, 2024 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Arrival, Battery-Electric Buses, Bicester, Wrightbus, Wrightbus NewPower