Northern Ireland-based bus manufacturer Wrightbus has unveiled the second generation of its Electroliner platform, which includes the single-deck GB Kite Electroliner and the double-deck StreetDeck Electroliner.
The new platform was detailed earlier this year. While the exterior design of the second generation remains virtually unchanged, the range now benefits from material TCO improvements following a change in battery supplier to CATL.
Both single-deck and double-deck variants come equipped with a “bespoke” 442kWh battery from the Chinese battery manufacturer, delivering a range of 275 miles in the StreetDeck and 300 miles in the GB Kite. The latter can also be specified with a 528kWh battery for a claimed range of up to 375 miles.
Other upgrades include a 75-minute rapid charge at 380kW (an improvement over the three-hour charge time of the first generation Electroliner), a 15-year warranty on the new batteries, and a TCO reduction of 11% over the previous generation.
Switching to CATL brings a move to lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery chemistry, away from nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC). Wrightbus says this brings cost advantages and increased safety, with less thermal-runaway risk, while a slimmer battery pack allows a lower floor height. Wrightbus claims it has design exclusivity of the new battery pack for a “period of time”. Battery integration for the StreetDeck sees them distributed throughout the chassis; for the GB Kite variant they sit on the roof, allowing for increased passenger capacity.
Electrification hardware has been upgraded with a new Voith VEDS 1.5 driveline. That includes an upgraded lightweight inverter, DC/DC converter (6.0 kW continuous) and a new generation combined charging unit that reduces charging time. The charging socket is CCS2 compliant, supporting up to 150 kW plug-in, and 380 kW/500A opportunity charging.
The model can also be specified with a new HVAC system developed with UK specialist Grayson Thermal Systems to meet the Transport for London (TfL) 2.5 standard.
Wrightbus confirms it currently holds some 900 forward orders for the Gen 2 Electroliner (single and double-deck) with around half destined for London, and has started production in its Ballymena facility. It adds that around 1,100 will be on the road by the end of 2026 with initial deliveries scheduled in the coming weeks.
CEO Jean-Marc Gales says the extended battery warranty was a key decision to switch from previous battery supplier Forsee Power to CATL, as the new warranty covers two seven-year cycles in the London market. He says Wrightbus expects the Electroliner range to prove attractive to provincial operators too, thanks to the extended range of the GB Kite. Wrightbus says it already has 35% market share in diesel, hydrogen fuel cell-electric and battery-electric buses across the UK and Ireland, and expects that to grow to 38% by the end of 2026.
“We have 3,000 zero-emission buses operating every day in the UK and Europe but our engineering team is still pushing continually to improve our vehicles,” he adds. “There is some incredibly tough competition in the market but in many ways this is a blessing as it forces everyone to raise their game.
“Our factory is running at China-speed so we can deliver better efficiency and value to our customers, creating innovative products that exceed operators’ demands and expectations with a TCO better than diesel. With the additional improvements we have made to the vehicles, we once again have a class-leading zero-emission product that will soon be in operation in numerous towns and cities across the UK.
“And thanks to the close collaboration with our fellow HydraB Group companies, we are able to offer our customers a wider package of support that includes financing and charging infrastructure in addition to the gold-standard maintenance, aftercare and support that we already provide.”
