UK - Electric drivetrain manufacturer, Equipmake Ltd of Norwich, UK, unveiled a zero-emission version of the New Routemaster double-decker bus at the Euro Bus Expo in Birmingham. Partly funded by the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), the retrofitting process replaced its previous hybrid drivetrain with a Zero Emission Drivetrain (ZED), which includes Equipmake’s own HTM 3500 electric motor, producing 3,500Nm torque at 1,000rpm and delivering 400kW maximum power.

Claiming use of 95% of British-built component content, the repowered bus features a 400kWh battery enabling a range of 150 miles (241 km) and features Equipmake’s thermal management system which maintains the battery pack, motor, and inverter at an optimum operating temperature to maximise the vehicle’s range. The customer, Metroline is currently conducting pre-service trials of the bus in London over the next six months, which will enable the bus operating industry to assess whether repowering is a cost-effective transitionary technology capable of rapidly accelerating change of a bus fleet from diesel to zero emissions.