Northern Ireland-based bus manufacturer Wrightbus is set to invest tens of millions of pounds in the development of next-generation electric and hydrogen-powered buses, with a key focus on expanding and upgrading its StreetDeck Electroliner platform. The company has earmarked £10 million for the electric double-decker model, which is widely used in London’s iconic red bus fleet.
The investment will primarily support enhancements to the Electroliner range, which is available in both single- and double-deck configurations. The current double-decker version features a range of up to 320 kilometres on a single charge and can be recharged in approximately 2.5 hours. Battery options include 340kWh and 454kWh, with charging possible via CCS at up to 300kW or pantograph at up to 420kW. The bus typically accommodates 74 seated and 21 standing passengers.
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Wrightbus Electroliners are already in operation across several UK cities, including Plymouth, York, Norwich, Aberdeen, Leicester, and Belfast. In London, hundreds of Electroliners are integrated into Transport for London’s zero-emission fleet. The company has seen rapid growth and aims to scale up production at its Ballymena facility in Northern Ireland, where it expects to manufacture 1,200 buses this year, 95% of which will be battery electric vehicles (BEVs).
Beyond electric buses, Wrightbus has allocated an additional £15 million across three areas: product validation, the development of a hydrogen fuel cell-powered coach, and a real-time telematics system for its vehicles. The company already produces the Hydroliner, a hydrogen-powered version of the Electroliner, which boasts a range of around 482 kilometres. It now plans to release a long-range hydrogen coach within the next 18 months, targeting a single-refuel range of 1,000 kilometres—designed to rival diesel coaches on intercity routes.
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The plans have been welcomed by UK Science Secretary Peter Kyle, who emphasized the significance of private sector investment in research and development. “Wrightbus is proof that businesses backing R&D deliver real-world impact – for both the company themselves and the local region,” said Kyle. “Investing in innovation is central to our Plan for Change, but public investment alone is not enough to ensure British businesses remain at the cutting edge of global industries.”
Earlier this month, Wrightbus announced that its fleet had collectively surpassed 50 million ‘zero-emission miles’, which the company says has prevented 85,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. The firm also maintains partnerships with suppliers across several European countries, including Germany, France, Belgium, Turkey, the Netherlands, and Ireland.