30 Wrightbus StreetDeck double-deckers in the First Bus fleet are to be repowered from diesel to battery-electric with a KleanDrive system.
That work will extend the operator’s approach to repowering the diesel StreetDeck. It adds KleanDrive as a third supplier of such technology to the group in addition to Equipmake – which has carried out one such conversion – and Wrightbus subsidiary NewPower.
FirstGroup took a £1 million stake in KleanDrive during 2024. The repower partnership will see First Bus subsidiary Ensignbus carry out the driveline work and wider refurbishment of the vehicles at its Purfleet engineering centre.
The 30 buses will gain the latest-generation KleanDrive battery-electric drivetrain. That includes 352kWh of batteries that use lithium iron phosphate cells from CATL and which deliver a usable capacity of 324kWh.
Propulsion is from the Voith Electrical Drive System and the overall package sits with power electronics on a framework and skid. A range of 195 miles at 50% passenger occupancy is claimed by the supplier.
A pilot vehicle will be converted before the programme rolls out more widely, KleanDrive adds. Removed diesel driveline components will remain with First Bus for reuse within its legacy StreetDeck fleet.
KleanDrive says that the battery-electric driveline will wholly fit within the existing engine bay “with a layout optimised for efficiency, reliability, and ease of routine maintenance.”
Founder Joe Tighe observes that the deal with First Bus “is how we see the future of repowering buses – with KleanDrive providing a world-leading, model-specific modular e-drivetrain and the body and chassis work carried out by experienced specialists like Ensign.”
Adds First Bus Managing Director (B2B) Andrew Jarvis: “We are delighted to place this order with KleanDrive. We are impressed with its engineering quality and overall solution.
“It offers a very neat package, making installation and maintenance easier to complete, which is vital for us to get the converted buses out on the roads, serving our customers, in the shortest time possible.
“For us as an operator, having a modular drivetrain and enabling the repowering to be done at our premises saves time, money and carbon emissions while empowering our technicians to work on the vehicle for routine maintenance after conversion.”
