London tour buses to undergo Equipmake EV retrofit

author: FutureCar Staff    

Equipmake, a UK electrification specialist, has recently signed a contract with London's Big Bus Tours to convert their fleet of 10 open-top tour buses from diesel to fully electric. The Ankai buses will be fitted with 327kWh batteries, allowing them to travel up to 120 miles on a single charge. This range is more than enough to cover the buses' daily sightseeing routes around the historic sites of the capital. The first converted vehicle is expected to enter service in the first quarter of 2024.

Equipmake CEO, Ian Foley, expressed his delight in partnering with Big Bus Tours and commended their commitment to sustainability. He emphasized the advantages of repowering existing vehicles, stating that it not only helps achieve net-zero targets and improve local air quality but also results in significant cost savings compared to purchasing new electric buses. By retrofitting their buses, Big Bus Tours is estimated to save 90 tonnes of embedded CO2 per converted vehicle. Additionally, each conversion costs less than half of a new electric bus, allowing operators to make substantial savings.

Gerry Price, the executive vice president at Big Bus Tours, highlighted the significance of the partnership with Equipmake in their transition towards zero emissions. He praised the technology developed by Equipmake and their shared commitment to sustainability. Price believes that through innovations like this, they can contribute to improving the capital's air quality and provide tourists with an even more enjoyable experience.

Equipmake's Zero Emission Drivetrain (ZED), which will be used on the tour buses, has already been implemented on London's iconic Routemasters. The electrified Routemaster, introduced for trials in November 2022, features a 400kWh battery that provides a range of 150 miles while in service.

FutureCar Staff