Double-decker buses get a new life with EV swap

Kleandrive has partnered with British public transport operator First Bus and heavy vehicle manufacturer Alexander Dennis to convert diesel buses to electric using innovative modular drivetrain tech.

The collaboration will initially result in 30 Wrightbus Streetdeck double-deckers fitted with KleanDrive electric drivetrains.

They will enter service next year under First Bus’s target of running a completely zero-emission fleet by 2035.

First Bus-owned Ensignbus will manage installation and refurbishment of chassis and interiors, with the programme beginning with a pilot conversion before full fleet rollout.

“This deal with First Group and work with Ensignbus and First Bus is how we see the future of repowering buses,” said KleanDrive founder Joe Tighe.

KleanDrive’s modular system enables quick installation and minimal downtime by allowing the drivetrain to be easily fitted or removed.

Each bus will be equipped with 324kWh of CATL lithium iron phosphate batteries, Voith motors and a skid-mounted power electronics housing, delivering a 314km range per charge at 50 per cent passenger occupancy.

“We are delighted to place this order with KleanDrive. We are impressed with KleanDrive’s engineering quality and their overall solution,” said First Bus managing director Andrew Jarvis.

“They offer a very neat package, making installation and maintenance easier to complete, which is vital for us to get the converted buses out on the roads, serving our customers in the shortest time possible.”

Mr Jarvis highlighted that the modular design enables onsite conversions that empower local technicians while reducing time, costs and carbon emissions.

KleanDrive has also partnered with Alexander Dennis to launch the ‘AD Repower’ program focused on converting Enviro400 double-decker buses from diesel to electric with a similar modular drivetrain, promising 314km of range.

“We believe that offering new electric buses as well as repowering vehicles already on the road is the quickest route to decarbonisation,” said Alexander Dennis group engineering director Chris Gall.

Mr Gall commended KleanDrive’s engineering, praising the system’s modularity for streamlined installation and maintenance, and the fact that onsite conversions at fleet operator premises enhance efficiency by reducing downtime and transportation costs – ensuring smoother integration into daily operations.

During conversion, diesel-related components removed from Streetdeck and Enviro400 buses are repurposed by First Bus and Alexander Dennis for reuse in remaining conventional fleets, extending their lifespan.

“By repowering rather than prematurely replacing, we avoid throwing away a perfectly good vehicle and the carbon dioxide that is embedded within that,” said Mr Tighe.

First Bus parent company First Group made a strategic investment of $1.9 million in KleanDrive in 2024, supporting the development and deployment of its electric bus technology and giving the drivetrain developer a pivotal role in advancing public transport decarbonisation. 

KleanDrive’s conversions preserve original interior layout, enabling fleet operators to maintain seating capacity and ensure service continuity throughout the transition.