Repower of a seed Wrightbus StreetDeck from the Bee Network fleet to battery-electric will help to explore how such work could assist in moving all franchised buses in Greater Manchester to zero-emission “by 2030,” Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) says.
The vehicle dates from 2021 and is operated by Go North West from Bolton depot. Repower of the Bee Network bus has been carried out by the Wrightbus NewPower business. It is now undergoing trials alongside 69 OEM battery-electric buses in Bolton.
That work will evaluate the energy efficiency, range, operational costs and real-world performance of the bus to determine whether such an approach “can offer a scalable solution for fleet electrification.”
New diesel vehicles continued to enter the franchised Bee Network fleet in early 2025. TfGM Director of Bus Stephen Rhodes (pictured, centre) says that the repower trial “is an exciting opportunity to explore whether bus electrification can happen faster and more cost-effectively.”
He continues: “If successful, it could prove invaluable in helping us to deliver a fully electric fleet by 2030 and provide a blueprint for the wider industry.” Go North West parent Go-Ahead previously said that it is keen to see how findings from the trial in Greater Manchester can inform potential for repower.
Go North West Managing Director Nigel Featham (pictured, left) notes how repower extends a bus’s life “and provides a lower-cost way to cut emissions quickly.” If the work proves successful, “this could become a vital tool in delivering Greater Manchester’s zero-emission ambitions,” he continues.
Wrightbus UK Bus Sales Director Kirk Trewin (pictured, right) underlines how repower technology “has the potential to be a gamechanger in the transition to zero-emission transport.”
He adds that the manufacturer is “excited to work with Go North West and TfGM to bring this innovation to life, which could unlock cost-effective solutions for the industry.”
