London tour buses set for Equipmake EV retrofit

According to Norfolk-based Equipmake, the electrified Ankai buses will be fitted with 327kWh batteries, delivering 120 miles of range. This is claimed to be enough to cover the buses’ daily sightseeing routes around the capital’s historic sites. The first vehicle is due to will enter service in Q1 2024.

“We are delighted to be partnering with Big Bus Tours as it continues to make its fleet more sustainable,” said Ian Foley, Equipmake CEO.

“It’s fantastic to work with companies that share a forward-thinking mindset and recognise the immense advantages of repowering. By choosing to repower, Big Bus Tours will not only benefit from an excellent opportunity to achieve net-zero targets and play a key role in improving local air quality, but also make significant operating cost savings over the purchase of a new electric bus.”

Equipmake claims that by retrofitting rather than purchasing new EV buses, Big Bus Tours will save 90 tonnes of embedded CO₂ per converted vehicle. It’s also claimed that each conversion costs less than half of a new electric bus, and that operators can make substantial savings by converting ICE vehicles once they reach around halfway through their scheduled service life.