Wrightbus has promised an up to 640-mile range for its new hydrogen fuel cell-electric GB Kite Hydroliner single-decker and an up to 300-mile range for the battery-electric GB Kite Electroliner. The range will debut at the Cenex-LCV2021 event, to be held at UTAC Millbrook on 22-23 September.
The GB Kite models take their cues from the double-deck StreetDeck Hydroliner and Electroliner products. The single-deckers have been developed following an award of funding from the Advanced Propulsion Centre’s Advanced Route to Market Demonstrator contest, which Wrightbus Executive Chairman Jo Bamford says has enabled their development “at considerable pace.”
Each of the GB Kite models can carry a maximum of 90 passengers. Production is expected to begin in Q1 2022.
Wrightbus says that the fastest charging version of the GB Kite Electroliner will charge in 2.5 hours, and that both zero-emission single-deck models have 86% parts commonality with their double-deck sisters. That will deliver “significant benefits to operators in terms of reducing complexity and costs for fleet maintenance.”
Mr Bamford adds that the two new models underline the manufacturer’s continued investment in its product range and people since he assumed ownership of the business.
“The creation of our new single-deck hydrogen and single-deck battery buses means that Wrightbus is proud to be the only UK manufacturer currently able to offer four zero-emission vehicles to the market.”
