Equipmake demonstrates ‘repowered’ electric New Routemaster bus

Unveiled on Equipmake’s stand at the Euro Bus Expo this week (November 1-3, 2022), the repowered New Routemaster has had its hybrid drivetrain completely replaced by ZED.

Bus operator Metroline is conducting pre-service trials of an all-electric New Routemaster in London where it will be assessed over the next six months. The programme will deliver test data to Transport for London (TfL), which is evaluating a range of clean technologies, including repower systems. Charging infrastructure at Metroline’s Holloway depot, alongside battery data analytics for the bus, is being provided by Zenobē, the EV fleet and battery storage specialist.

The repowered New Routemaster features a 400kWh battery enabling an expected in-service range of 150 miles. Over the coming months, Equipmake will be trialling additional repowered buses with other bus operators across the UK.

In a statement, Ian Foley, CEO of Equipmake, said: “Repowering is a vital, cost-effective transitionary technology that can bridge the gap between diesel and a new electric bus fleet. London is leading the way in the adoption of green technologies for large commercial vehicles and as TfL continues to evaluate a range of clean technologies, we are confident our repower systems can play a rapid role in accelerating any zero-emission vehicle strategy.”