Wrightbus, already leading the world with its pioneering hydrogen technology, today unveils the latest addition to its zero-emission arsenal - a rapid-charge electric double-deck.
The StreetDeck Electroliner - the first ever EV from Wrightbus - is the perfect combination of range and efficiency, maximising power and offering class-leading recharge times.
Utilising a French battery pack which delivers 454kw and a 200-mile range, the Electroliner will recharge in two hours 45minutes and cope with all routes, whether urban or rural.
Nor has the bus compromised on layout or capacity, with batteries efficiently stored around the bus to ensure passenger capacity comfort is not compromised.
Founded in 1946, Wrightbus has been at the forefront of public transport for 75 years and is still based in the heart of Ballymena, Northern Ireland.
Rescued from administration by green entrepreneur Jo Bamford in October 2019, the company is going from strength to strength, also launching a world-first hydrogen bus as well as an advanced telematics system to give real-time updates on performance, maintenance and CO2 savings.
CEO Buta Atwal, who last week took the wraps off a fleet of 20 hydrogen buses alongside London Mayor Sadiq Khan, said Wrightbus continued to deliver on its net zero promise.
“We have gained a strong reputation for our hydrogen double deck but we want to lead the world in zero-emissions full stop,” he explained.
“Wrightbus has the best brains in the business when it comes to technology and our StreetDeck Electroliner puts us squarely at the front of the pack.
“We haven’t weighed the bus down with a high battery volume just so we can say it’s got the most power or range; instead, we want to be the most efficient vehicle on the road so we’ve combined optimum power with a class-leading rapid charge meaning our electric bus spends more time on the road than any other.”
The Wrightbus hydrogen-fueled bus is already in operation in Aberdeen, London, Belfast and Dublin, and there is growing interest for all its zero emissions offerings from around the globe.
Pioneering bus technology for 75 years, Wrightbus today also reveals its new telemetry system which provides real-time feedback on performance, maintenance and even CO2 savings.
WB UPTIME 365 will enable all Wrightbus models to stay at peak performance for longer, communicating with control rooms at the touch of a button via a staggering 5,000 thresholds and sensors.
Aiding drivers of both zero-emissions vehicles - the hydrogen-fuelled StreetDeck Hydroliner and battery-powered StreetDeck Electroliner - as well as diesel variants, WB UPTIME 365 aims to keep vehicles on the roads for longer through its revolutionary remote fail-safe intervention technology.
CEO Buta Awtal said Wrightbus was breaking new ground, not just in zero-emissions technology but in the software and services need to support it.
“Our aim is to ensure we keep our buses running more efficiently and for longer, wherever they are in the world,” Mr Atwal explained.
“WB UPTIME 365 does exactly as the name suggests - it keeps bus fleets at peak performance, each and every day of the year, and offers a clearer understanding of their operation and availability.”
The AI-based system provides real-time predictive data analysis and can alert operators when a bus needs preventive intervention, saving on maintenance costs. It is backed up by the company’s class-leading support and repair service, on-hand to ensure the smooth running of fleet operations.
“We have developed and perfected the telemetry while on the ground in Aberdeen and it’s a real credit to Aberdeen City Council and to FirstGroup that they have embraced this new technology so readily, putting the city firmly and historically on the zero-emissions map,” added Wrightbus Group Director Ian Gillott.
He also explained that FirstGroup’s army of 250 bus drivers had played a pivotal role in the technology’s development.
“We set out with an over-cautious approach in Aberdeen, just to ensure that we responded to every issue regardless of how minor it may have been. You have to remember that these buses were a world-first and it was always going to take some time for them to bed in.
“But the last few weeks have been a revelation, not only in how we’ve been able to support this bedding-in period on the ground but the way everyone at FirstGroup has responded so positively. Adoption from the drivers has been fantastic, especially as many of them had only ever driven a diesel bus, and they have been enormously helpful in helping us iron out driver-related issues.”
The Ballymena-based company is in discussions with operators from the USA, Australia, South America and the Far East as authorities race to hit net zero targets.
Founded in 1946, Wrightbus has been at the forefront of public transport for 75 years and is still based in the heart of Ballymena, Northern Ireland.
Rescued from administration by green entrepreneur Jo Bamford in October 2019, the company is going from strength to strength, also launching a class-leading electric bus as well as an advanced telematics system to give real-time updates on performance, maintenance and CO2 savings.
“We are breaking new ground in bus technology and it’s only right that we break new ground in the supporting services too,” Mr Atwal stressed.
