Alexander Dennis launches re-powering service for diesel buses
Alexander Dennis, a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc., will introduce a factory-supported retrofit programme to convert its existing diesel buses to electric, starting with the MMC-generation Enviro400 double decker. The first pilot vehicle is expected to be operational in the UK during the first half of 2026.
Depending on demand, the company indicates the programme called ‘AD Repower’ could be extended to additional models and markets.
The conversion replaces the original diesel engine and transmission with a modular electric drivetrain developed by KleanDrive. At the centre of the system is a Voith Electrical Drive System (VEDS). The bus manufacturer points out that the same drive technology is also used in its latest-generation electric buses.
The 352 kWh LFP battery is provided by Chinese manufacturer CATL. KleanDrive expects a range of up to 195 miles (about 314 km) per charge under standard duty cycles at 50% passenger load. The retrofit maintains the existing interior configuration and seating capacity of the Enviro400.
According to KleanDrive, the conversion can be completed on-site at the operator’s depot. The drivetrain system interfaces directly with the vehicle’s existing controls and instrumentation and is designed to allow local technicians to carry out ongoing servicing.
Chris Gall, Group Engineering Director at Alexander Dennis, said the new offering complements the company’s zero-emission product line: “We believe that offering new electric buses as well as repowering vehicles already on the road is the quickest route to decarbonisation of our customer’s fleets.”
He added: “Their drivetrain engineering is in keeping with our reputation for quality and we have been impressed with how well thought out the design is for easy installation and maintenance.”
Joe Tighe, CEO of KleanDrive, said: “By repowering rather than prematurely replacing, we avoid throwing away a perfectly good vehicle and the carbon dioxide that is embedded within that. This is a great solution for operators and the environment.”
Alexander Dennis is not the first bus maker to offer a re-powering service. Just over a year ago, competitor Wrightbus announced NewPower, its programme to convert diesel buses to electric. It, too, uses a VEDS but relies on NMC battery packs from Forsee.
While Alexander Dennis does not mention how much retrofitting a diesel-powered bus will cost, Wrightbus said it would cost around 200,000 pounds, which is roughly 238,000 euros. That makes electrifying vehicles cheaper than new electric buses – and allows fleets to go electric sooner, as they do not have to wait for the end of a diesel bus’s lifecycle to replace it with an electric one.
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