Golden Tours to repower ten more open-toppers

Equipmake has secured a further contract with Golden Tours to repower a further ten Volvo B5TL London Tour open-toppers, bought new in 2016 with Wrights and MCV bodywork. This contract follows a £2m initial order in February from Golden Tours.

Equipmake expects to commence delivery of these ten repowered buses over the coming months, integrating its ZED (zero emission drive) into each bus. ZED is a modular and scalable repowering solution, making it applicable to both single- and double-deck bus applications. The technology features Equipmake’s in-house developed electric motor, inverter, and power electronics, which are combined with the latest lithium-ion batteries.

Commenting on the contract, Ian Foley, CEO, Equipmake said: “Golden Tours is a leading tour and activity company in London and across the UK, and I am pleased to announce it has followed its February order with another substantial commitment for Equipmake-repowered buses.”

Mikesh Palan, Managing Director at Golden Tours, added: “By extending our relationship with Equipmake, Golden Tours is ensuring its operations are as sustainable as possible. We offer bus services to the UK’s most famous and iconic locations, and by partnering with Equipmake, we will enhance our services for thousands of passengers a day.

“The cutting-edge capabilities of Equipmake’s Zero-Emission Drivetrain and its many cost, sustainability and efficiency advantages highlighted clear benefits of this continued partnership. We look forward to bringing these electric buses into service and continuing to put sustainability at the forefront of our business strategy.”

Each conversion, says Equipmake, costs less than half the price of a new electric bus, and with most buses in service for more than 14 years, operators can make significant savings by repowering their buses halfway through its operational life cycle.