- Equipmake contracts Golden Tours to convert ten London tour buses to electric using ZED technology.
- Conversion emphasises sustainability and efficiency, featuring advanced thermal management and cost-effective repowering.
- Partnership follows initial £2 million order, expected to save 90 tonnes of CO2, with deliveries soon.
Equipmake and Golden Tours continue their EV conversion partnership, bringing 10 newly electric buses to the streets of London
Equipmake has secured a contract with Golden Tours to repower ten London tour buses from diesel to electric. This marks the continuation of the pair’s ongoing partnership, following an initial £2 million order placed in February. The buses involved in the conversion are Volvo B5s, commonly used for sightseeing across the UK capital.
Ian Foley, CEO of Equipmake, commented:
“Golden Tours is a leading tour and activity company in London and across the UK, and I am pleased to announce it has followed its February order with another substantial commitment for Equipmake-repowered buses. This new contract is testament to the quality and reliability of our products and reflects an increasing move in the sector towards sustainable operational alternatives. Equipmake’s bus repowering provides an economically compelling alternative to purchasing new electric vehicles and we are delighted that we can support Golden Tours as it works to make its fleet sustainable.”
Equipmake transforms diesel buses into electric with its Zero-Emission Drivetrain (ZED) technology. This system is designed for both single and double-decker buses; essential for London’s iconic fleet.
It features Equipmake’s in-house developed electric motor, inverter, and power electronics, paired with the latest lithium-ion batteries. Furthermore, its patented thermal management technology ensures the battery pack, motor, and inverter are maintained at optimal temperatures. This maximises vehicle range while capturing thermal energy to provide heating during colder weather. It’s often a combination of smaller ideas and innovations that lead to net-zero. Re-purposing excess electric heat is certainly one of them.
Mikesh Palan, Managing Director at Golden Tours, mirrored Ian’s enthusiasm:
“By extending our relationship with Equipmake, Golden Tours is ensuring its operations are as sustainable as possible. We offer bus services to the UK’s most famous and iconic locations, and by partnering with Equipmake, we will enhance our services for thousands of passengers a day. The cutting-edge capabilities of Equipmake’s Zero-Emission Drivetrain and its many cost, sustainability and efficiency advantages highlighted clear benefits of this continued partnership. We look forward to bringing these electric buses into service and continuing to put sustainability at the forefront of our business strategy.”
Equipmake’s ZED technology offers substantial environmental benefits. Repurposing the bus chassis and body saves 90 tonnes of CO2 emissions compared to manufacturing new buses. Furthermore, converting an existing bus costs less than half the price of a new electric bus. It’s a smart way of avoiding the scrapheap, and of contributing to London’s ever-growing electric fleets.
