A domestic bus market that is in the doldrums is having no effect on Wrightbus’ desire to push the boundaries in the development of alternative fuels and new technologies across its range of buses
Although the domestic bus market is going through a difficult period and new vehicle volumes are significantly down, there is no let-up among manufacturers as they seek to make carbon footprints ever smaller.
That was the message from Wrights Group Chairman and CEO Mark Nodder when he revealed what the Ballymena manufacturer will display at Euro Bus Expo in two weeks’ time.
Among the many market challenges is uncertainty over future air quality regulations. The resulting lack of clarity over which technologies will be best suited to individual requirements further clouds the issue, and thus Wrightbus does not have all of its eggs in one basket.
“There are pressures on the bus market, but we are in it for the long term,” he explains. “Even though volumes are not currently there, technology drivers are.” As a result, R&D spend remains strong; it consumed £5m in 2017.
Wrightbus has taken several steps to ensure that it is well positioned to continue to grab opportunities when they are presented. Its management team has been restructured, and it plans to announce product developments next year.
Additionally, to offset the challenging British market, Wrightbus is its developing overseas business. Chile and Mexico are showing promise, as is Oceania. It is working with Scania in Japan, and other territories in the Far East continue to deliver fruit in partnership with Volvo – although a development of the StreetDeck for a customer in Hong Kong may be of interest to UK buyers.
Hybrid efficiency
One concept that will enable costs to be kept as low as possible with alternative technologies from Wrightbus is its utilisation of significant cross-platform commonality, says Mark.
The 96v hybrid system, christened HEV 96, is well into production and it has been delivered in StreetLite and StreetDeck models to a number of operators. The manufacturer is coy on exactly how it works, but it is accepted by Transport for London as a hybrid and it is “significantly cheaper” than earlier diesel-electric products. For a HEV 96-equipped StreetDeck, unit cost is below £300,000.
A StreetDeck HEV for Translink, one of 28 with the Northern Irish operator, will be present at EBE. Besides the propulsion package, it has third-generation Micro Hybrid technology and engine stop-start to give what the manufacturer claims is “the most fuel efficient bus of its type.”
Harnessing hydrogen
A second StreetDeck at EBE will be a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) variant. Wrightbus’ approach to hydrogen utilises a common platform across double- and single-deck.
The StreetDeck FCEV for EBE has been tested in Aberdeen. Wrightbus has been selected as the sole supplier of hydrogen-powered double-decker buses to the UK under the European JIVE project, which is designed to promote the commercialisation of fuel cell vehicles,
As a result, it expects to build around 50 StreetDeck FCEVs for use in Aberdeen, Birmingham and London, and Wrightbus is working closely with those cities to develop an implementation plan. It is also talking to a handful of other potential domestic customers.
“Fuel cell technology has proved itself. The StreetDeck FCEV has a range of 200 miles, which can be extended,” says Mark. “A hydrogen bus looks and behaves much like a diesel in terms of infrastructure.”
Another important point with fuel cell is that hydrogen-powered buses can replace diesels on a one-for-one basis as there is no ‘range anxiety’.
Additionally, Wrightbus sees hydrogen as sustainable. It is the most abundant element in the universe, but separating it is energy intensive. To mitigate that, the OEM is working with partners in Scandinavia, where renewable electricity is used at night for that purpose.
Longer term, it envisages a vertically integrated supply arrangement, where the operator pays a pence-per-kg fee that includes both the hydrogen and the associated infrastructure.
Don’t forget EV
Although much focus is on fuel cell, Wrightbus has not forgotten battery electric. It is working on new EV technology and it regards diesel-electric hybrid as merely an intermediate step towards zero emission. “We believe that there is no single solution for all operations,” says Mark. To that end, battery electric will be available on all sizes of StreetLite, the StreetAir and the StreetDeck.
A more mundane development is the addition of the 7.7-litre, six-cylinder Daimler OM 936 engine to the diesel StreetDeck. At the moment only the 5.1-litre, four-cylinder OM 934 has been fitted to buses for the UK, but the larger unit is required in export markets. One such vehicle is currently on trial with Kowloon Motor Bus, and a demonstrator for Mexico also has the OM 936.
Meanwhile, at the smallest end of Wrightbus’ product range, a 9.05m long, 2.28m wide diesel StreetVibe will be on display at EBE. The show vehicle is one of a batch of 31-seaters ordered by the States of Guernsey, where vehicle width is a key consideration.
The domestic bus market may well be tough, but with a technology roadmap, a focus on R&D and a refreshed management team, Wrightbus remains bullish for future.
