Big Bus Tours has doubled in size a contract with Equipmake for the repower to battery-electric of diesel open-top double-deckers in its London fleet. The deal will now see 20 of those processed by the supplier, with 327kW/h of installed energy storage to give a range of 120 miles.
All the buses to be repowered are Ankai models. The first completed example will re-enter service during Q1, with three to have been returned to Big Bus by May, and the project completed by January 2025.
An initial deal for 10 repowers was signed by Big Bus Tours and Equipmake in September 2023. Equipmake will use its modular Zero-Emission Driveline (ZED) product, which it says is configured in a “completely bespoke” manner to suit the vehicles in question and combined with simulation of route requirements to ensure that optimum battery capacity is used.
The deal to repower all 20 buses is worth £3.5 million. Extension of the collaboration represents further growth in the market to convert open-top sightseeing buses to zero-emission, with at least two other operators having confirmed such work.
Speaking about the expanded repower agreement with Equipmake, Big Bus Tours Executive Vice-President – Group Operations Gerry Price says: “As part of our drive for global net-zero, Equipmake’s performance to date with the development of the first 10 buses ordered made the decision to increase the number an easy one, and will further progress our class-leading zero-emission status in the London tourism market.”
Equipmake’s scalable ZED utilises an in-house developed electric motor, inverter and power electronics coupled to lithium-ion batteries. It comes with what the supplier says is a highly efficient thermal management system to maintain batteries, motor and inverter at their optimum temperature, maximising range.
CEO Ian Foley describes the ZED as “industry-leading,” noting that it “continues to impress new and existing customers, as evidenced by the extension of this contract with Big Bus Tours.”
Adds Mr Foley: “This agreement will double the size of its fully electric repowered fleet, demonstrating both the quality and efficacy of our state-of-the-art technology, and the level of investment being made across the transport sector as it moves towards a net-zero future.”
