Germany / USA – Allison Transmission Inc., gearbox and e-Axle manufacturer based in Indianapolis, Indiana, announced that eighteen double-decker sightseeing buses operated by Willms Touristik have been retrofitted from diesel to electric drive and are now in service in Cologne and other German cities. The conversion was carried out by Danish retrofit specialist Banke ApS in cooperation with Allison’s authorised distributor, DGS Diesel- und Getriebeservice GmbH of Mainz.

Each vehicle is powered by a 145 kW electric motor paired with an Allison T280R fully automatic six-speed transmission. The transmission plays a key role in ensuring smooth, jolt-free acceleration, reduced energy consumption, and improved driving comfort, particularly in stop-start urban traffic. By retaining “Allison’s proven Continuous Power Technology”, the retrofitted buses deliver both higher efficiency and lower operating costs compared with their diesel predecessors.