Vehicle electrification specialist Equipmake announced that 12 converted buses using its electric drivetrains have entered service in the city of First York. Each vehicle has been upgraded with Equipmake's Zero Emission Drivetrain (ZED), giving it a daily range of 150 miles.
In partnership with the city of First York, Equipmake has converted the 12 Optare Versa singe-deck models to fully electric with its proprietary drivetrains and 274 kWh capacity batteries. The delivery follows on from a successful trial of an initial converted prototype, which allowed engineering teams at First York and Equipmake to finetune the performance.
Simon Carlisle, Engineering Director of First Bus in North & West Yorkshire commenting: "Following a successful initial trial, it's great to see this new fleet of 12 upgraded, all-electric buses operational across York. Equipmake's repower technology is an important step in our transition to achieving a fully electric fleet in York, continuing to help improve air quality in the city and supporting the goal of First Bus nationally to have a zero-emission fleet by 2035."
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More good news from Equipmake as the electric drivetrain maker continues to convert legacy vehicles. Conversion or "repowering" as EQIP terms it, is often much more cost-effective for operators than buying entire new electric fleets. In this way, cities like First York can save money while making tangible progress toward zero emission targets.
The market for electrification of vehicles is naturally growing - not only for buses, but also in the aerospace, industrial, marine, coach and automotive sectors where EQIP is also active. Early entrants in the market like EQIP are well-positioned to grow as operators of large fleets - especially governments - are looking for affordable and effective solutions. There are currently c. 6,000 non-electric buses in the UK between 6 and 10 years old that are perfect candidates for retrofitting.
For buses, Equipmake repowers are tailored to specific requirements provided by the operator, with service routes simulated to ensure optimum battery capacity for ranges of 150-250 miles. This is plenty for a complete duty cycle, allowing buses to recharge faster overnight and operate longer during the day. In First York's case, this meant 274 kWh batteries and new Equipmake drivetrains for the 12-bus fleet. With advancements in lithium-based batteries driving costs ever lower and improving longevity, particularly in LiFePO4 chemistries, we expect more and more cities to choose the conversion route.
The battery is only half the story, however. The drivetrain is just as important and it is where Equipmake's proprietary technology shines. For bus fleet contracts, EQIP's modular and scalable ZED drivetrains can be applied to single and double-decker buses and feature the company's in-house developed electric motor, inverter, and power electronics. Additionally, Equipmake provides its patented thermal management system, which maintains all 3 of ZED's components - the battery pack, motor, and inverter - at an optimum operating temperature, maximising range. In cold weather, the system can pump excess heat into the cabin, providing further energy savings.
Building on last year's impressive maiden full-year results, Equipmake carried strong momentum into H1 2024, with a 97% year-on-year increase in revenue reported, a large jump in margins to 9.2%, a contracted orderbook of £11.17m providing good visibility, and a strong cash position of £3.91m. The company recently opened a new 50,000 sq ft facility to accommodate rising demand across its markets.
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