First Bus receives new electric buses in Scotland
First Bus had placed the order for the new electric double-deckers in November 2024, earmarking £12.7 million for the purchase. The investment was also used to repower 12 existing diesel buses, bringing the number of new electric buses on the campus of the Robert Gordon University to 36.
The retrofitted buses are part of an order of a total of 30 units placed in July 2024. First Bus was the first customer of Wrightbus’ new business unit NewPower, which turns diesel buses into electric ones.
It uses battery systems from Forsee for its conversions. These are available in five versions with a capacity of 74 to 84 kWh, but it is not sure which one will be used to convert the First Bus vehicles. During re-powering, the diesel engine is swapped out for a Voith Electric Drive System (VEDS), NMC battery packs, and a Grayson HVAC system.
Wrightbus only launched the re-powering service for electric buses at the end of June. It was reported that converting a diesel bus would cost around 200,000 pounds (roughly 238,000 euros). First Bus did not communicate how much of the above-mentioned investment was used for the conversions.
Nevertheless, the new electric buses in Aberdeen mean that First Bus’ fleet there has one of the highest proportions of electric vehicles in the UK. The initiative is part of a 100-million-pound investment announced by First Bus at the 2021 climate conference in Glasgow, COP26, for the years 2024 and 2025.
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