Go North West, the operator of Greater Manchester’s Bee Network, has begun trials of its first diesel-to-electric converted bus, as it explores cost-effective ways to accelerate fleet electrification. The vehicle is based at the Bolton depot, where the company already operates 69 electric buses.
The trial aims to assess the feasibility of retrofitted buses by evaluating their efficiency, range, operational costs, and overall performance. “Converting an existing vehicle extends its life and provides a lower-cost way to cut emissions quickly,” said Nigel Featham, Managing Director of Go North West. “If successful, this could become a vital tool in delivering Greater Manchester’s zero-emission ambitions.”
The conversion was carried out under Wrightbus’ NewPower programme, which launched last year. The process, costing approximately £200,000 ($240,000) per bus, involves replacing the diesel engine with a Voith Electric Drive System (VEDS), NMC battery packs, and a Grayson HVAC system. Each conversion takes around three weeks.
Wrightbus’ repowering facility in Oxfordshire, formerly the headquarters of Arrival, can convert up to six buses at a time, with an annual capacity of 500 buses. “Repowering technology has the potential to be a game-changer in the transition to zero-emission transport,” said Kirk Trewin, UK Bus Sales Director at Wrightbus.
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If the trial proves successful, retrofitting existing buses could offer a lower-cost alternative to full fleet replacements, supporting Greater Manchester’s goal of achieving a zero-emission transport network.