NewPower repowers recorded with 230mile range
Repowered buses converted from diesel to battery-electric by NewPower have achieved a range of more than 230 miles, according to recently collected figures.
The Wrightbus-owned NewPower bus conversion operation has collated the statistics from the first 35,000 miles in service of its fleet of more than 20 repowered buses in operation across the UK. The real-life data, which includes in-service winter driving and real-life mileage, suggests its re-powered buses are clocking up 232 miles in service on a single charge.
In addition, NewPower claims its solution offers operators a 21% better total cost of ownership per bus versus a diesel equivalent thanks to a 47% reduction in maintenance and energy costs.
Each repowered bus has its diesel engines replaced with new zero-emission electric powertrains at NewPower’s Bicester factory in Oxfordshire. Buses repowered at NewPower are also now Zero Emissions Vehicle Repower Accreditation Scheme (ZEVRAS) approved, after the company recently received certification. Manufacturers of zero-emission repowered systems must get approved by ZEVRAS before the kit they use to convert the vehicle can be added to list of approved devices.
The NewPower process converts diesel buses into electric for less than half of the price of a new electric bus. The company says its solution extends buses’ lifespan by up to ten years in the process.
“We’ve always known our repowered buses would offer outstanding performance” – Wrightbus CEO, Jean-Marc Gales
Wrightbus CEO, Jean-Marc Gales, said: “We’ve always known our repowered buses would offer outstanding performance and it’s satisfying to now be able to back that up with data from the first 20,000 NewPower miles travelled.
“Thanks to the fact that we have the knowledge and expertise from the 2,300 strong Wrightbus workforce – including our master technicians – means NewPower has unrivalled expertise in being able to swap powertrains. It makes sense not just from a sustainability point of view, but from a cost perspective too.”
NewPower was launched last year by Wrightbus.