Wrightbus, a Northern Irish manufacturer of electric buses, has secured a new order to deliver 48 zero-emission double-decker buses for Stagecoach in London. The all-electric buses are expected to be delivered before the end of the year and will support Stagecoach’s strategy to have a zero-emission bus fleet in all their operations by 2035. This is not the only order for Wrightbus, as earlier this month, bus operator Arriva ordered 50 BEV double-deckers to join their London fleet. Wrightbus also has a £25.3 million contract to supply 117 battery-electric vehicles for First Bus across the UK.
Founded in 1946, Wrightbus has been making waves in the industry with their range of electric buses, including the hydrogen double-decker, the StreetDeck Hydroliner, and the BEV Electroliner. The latter made its debut in July 2021 and offers up to 74 seats and 21 standing places. The battery supplied by Forsee Power can deliver 340 or 454 kWh (for up to 200 miles of range) and is housed in the underbody and rear. Charging happens via CCS with up to 300 kW at the depot and Pantograf with up to 420 kW.
As for Stagecoach, the new buses will come off the lines at Wrightbus’s headquarters in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. Stagecoach currently operates 8,300 buses, coaches, and trams in England, Scotland, and Wales, and the fleet includes various electric buses, but not all come from Wrightbus. For example, Stagecoach announced the company’s largest electric bus order in April when it said it would invest up to £37.2 million (€42.3 million) to procure a new fleet of 170 electric buses from Volvo to serve routes in Stockport, Manchester.
See also: Forsee Power announced substantial order for Zen Slim battery modules from Wrightbus
The new order is a significant win for Wrightbus, who described it as a “real team effort” between the company and Stagecoach. With a string of new orders, Wrightbus is making strides towards a more sustainable future for public transport in the UK.
