Equipmake electrifies York bus fleet

Now in service across the city, the Optare Versa singe-deck buses have been re-engineered to incorporate Equipmake’s Zero-Emission Drivetrain (ZED) technology, which features a 274kWh capacity battery, providing a range of 150 miles.  

The roll-out follows a successful trial of an initial converted prototype vehicle, which allowed engineering teams at First York and Equipmake to evaluate its performance and make any final adjustments.

Equipmake repowers are tailored to specific requirements provided by the operator, with service routes simulated to ensure the optimum battery power level is selected to secure driving ranges of 150 to 250 miles. This range is more than sufficient for a complete duty cycle, allowing buses to be recharged faster, overnight and operate for longer during the day.

Repowering existing buses offers an excellent opportunity to achieve zero-emission targets, while making significant cost savings in parallel

The ZED, which is completely modular and scaleable and can be applied to single as well as double-decker buses, consists of a Equipmake’s in-house developed electric motor, inverter, and power electronics, along with lithium-ion batteries.