Horiba urges electric retrofits for bus fleets

Horiba Mira is urging bus manufacturers and operators to consider converting existing buses with electric powertrain technology to help the UK achieve a cleaner public transportation network. Horiba’s global electrification services leader Greg Harris says: “While the onus to date has mainly been on bringing new electrical buses to market, not to be overlooked is the major role retrofitting existing buses to e-buses can play in the UK’s all-electric bus towns pilot, and in meeting the EU’s clean vehicles d
November 4, 2019 Read time: 2 mins

Horiba Mira is urging bus manufacturers and operators to consider converting existing buses with electric powertrain technology to help the UK achieve a cleaner public transportation network.

Horiba’s global electrification services leader Greg Harris says: “While the onus to date has mainly been on bringing new electrical buses to market, not to be overlooked is the major role retrofitting existing buses to e-buses can play in the UK’s all-electric bus towns pilot, and in meeting the EU’s clean vehicles directive.”

In September, UK chancellor of the exchequer Sajid Javid announced £50 million to develop an ‘all-electric bus town’ in an unconfirmed location in which all buses were converted to wireless electric vehicles. Existing country buses are expected to be transitioned to hybrid vehicles, using electric power within built-up areas and diesel in more rural ones.

The clean vehicles directive states that at least a quarter of new buses purchased by public authorities in cities across Europe must be zero-emission by 2025, and at least a third by 2030.

Horiba is now working with lithium-ion battery specialist BMZ and e-axle experts Ziehl-Abegg to offer a turnkey service for converting bus fleets to e-buses.

The partners will develop electric powertrain solutions, with the option of a complete retrofit offering of existing bus fleets through local partners where required.

“Converting existing bus fleets offers a cost-effective and innovative solution to deploying cleaner electric public buses across Europe and we’d urge all bus owners and operators to consider this as a viable alternative to buying new electric buses,” Harris adds.

Related Content

  • America explores road user charging options
    November 14, 2017
    Jack Opiola casts an eye over the numerous road user charging pilots underway in the US. In the USA, congestion mitigation and improving mobility have often focused on network improvements, increased road capacity, improved public transport, high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes or ‘express lanes’ and ITS measures – all of which require political capital and major funding. Nowadays, political capital is as hard to obtain as funding because more political leaders are recognising the decline of fuel excise tax
    Read More
  • America explores road user charging options
    November 27, 2017
    Jack Opiola casts an eye over the numerous road user charging pilots underway in the US. In the USA, congestion mitigation and improving mobility have often focused on network improvements, increased road capacity, improved public transport, high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes or ‘express lanes’ and ITS measures – all of which require political capital and major funding. Nowadays, political capital is as hard to obtain as funding because more political leaders are recognising the decline of fuel excise tax in
    Read More
  • The long road to Spanish enlightenment
    October 22, 2018
    Julián Núñez, immediate past president of ASECAP, gets his teeth into the vision of a European strategy for toll roads. David Arminas reports from Madrid. Getting European politicians to agree to a long-term cross-border highway infrastructure programme for toll roads is extremely difficult. It’s a bit like pulling teeth: people want to avoid the pain. But pain is something that Spanish operators, including Abertis, OHL, ACS, FCC and Acciona, have been going through for the past decade. The country has
    Read More
  • EVs & smart cities: Tritium keeps things moving
    December 3, 2018
    Electric vehicles are widely expected to play a major role in the smarter, cleaner cities of the future. Paul Sernia explains why – and looks at the place of ultra-rapid chargers as part of a versatile public infrastructure Electric vehicles (EVs) are widely expected to play a major role in the smarter, cleaner cities of the future. With no dirty tailpipe, EVs can help improve the polluted air of inner cities. And when deployed as widely shared assets – through car clubs, ride-sharing services and taxi
    Read More

Highlighted Content