UK – Through its investment arm FirstGroup Energy Limited, FirstGroup Plc has invested GBP 1 million into start-up e-powertrain retrofitter, KleanDrive (owned by Kleanbus Ltd* of Scarborough, UK) to help accelerate the shift to zero-emission transportation. This investment will support the expansion of KleanDrive’s retrofitting capacity and the increased manufacturing capacity of its proprietary advanced ePowertrain technology used to repower diesel ICE buses to electric drive. For First Bus, this strategic investment will help the company achieve a fully zero-emission fleet by 2035 by repowering its ageing diesel ICE fleet.

In terms of the Kleanbus “advanced modular electric platform,” (a modular driveline package), the system combines battery-electric powertrain components from Tier 1 suppliers with its own integration technology and proprietary software, with a conversion taking just 2 weeks once a system has been designed and tested. According to Kleanbus, conversions cost just 20% of the cost of a new battery-electric bus and offer, when completed, significantly lower emissions.