The Warrington’s Own Buses 105-strong battery-electric bus fleet will be shod with Michelin X InCity EV Z tyres as an extension of an exclusive arrangement between the two businesses that began in 2022.
Transition of the municipal operator’s vehicle parc in its entirety to battery-electric will complete by the end of March, with the Volvo BZL chosen as the bus type to deliver that.
Availability of the X InCity EV Z tyre from Michelin was a key factor in the decision to sign an exclusive tyre contract in 2022, says Warrington’s Own Buses Finance Director David Woods.
“Having a partner like Michelin on-board, which we know we can rely on, offers great peace of mind. We know that the new vehicles are operating on the best tyres possible that are ultra-durable and stand the test of time, ensuring that we keen any unnecessary downtime to a minimum.”
Load capacity of the X InCity EV Z tyre is increased to take account of vehicle battery mass, while retained are many existing advanced tyre technologies from Michelin such as InfiniCoil, Forcion and Regenion to maximise mileage potential. Robust steel cables are within the casing and the bead design helps stability.
While the tyre has been designed for electric vehicles, it is equally suitable for those with combustion engines, says Michelin. It is a multi-position product that the supplier adds delivers “excellent safety, longevity and load capacity while helping operators to reduce their environmental footprint by reducing rolling resistance – key to maximising range.”
Via an existing ‘Superfit’ policy, Michelin supplies products directly to Warrington’s Own Buses at its new depot in the town. The manufacturer handles fleet-wide inspection and fitting of the tyres as part of the contract.
Adds Mr Woods: “Michelin has been very professional and offered us a good level of service since we moved across from our old provider. It has proved to be a very good decision for our business.”
