Retrofitting BEV Bus Powertrains Quick Fix for Fleets, Says Kleanbus

Paul Myles

TU-Editor

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1st September 2022

UK electric bus powertrain company, Kleanbus, has revealed its modular platform claiming to convert any bus, single or double decker, from ICE to zero emission quickly and cost-effectively.

The company says electrification of urban public transport is the most viable way for bus operators to go green but new electric buses are expensive and can take many months to join a fleet from order placement to delivery. Now, by replacing the diesel or hybrid powertrain from existing buses with a fully electric powertrain, operators can achieve timely results at affordable prices.

It says its platform achieves sustainability goals with e-motors that do not have permanent magnets, so using no rare earth materials at all and demanding less of the planet’s resources and limiting the impact of rare earth metals production. From its 9,000 sq ft facility based in the east of England, the Kleanbus repower program consists of an evaluation of the vehicle, removal of its diesel engine and all associated ICE components, scanning and prototyping of the vehicle’s interior, design of a bespoke platform, installation of a new e-drive, build, full testing process and final certification.

Once a bespoke e-drivetrain has been designed and tested it takes less than two weeks to repower an individual bus, getting the vehicle back in service in as little time as possible. Operating costs claim to be dramatically lower, at a third of those of a conventional diesel bus, and likely to be even greater with the latest UK Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) incentive is factored in.

Joe Tighe, co-Founder and CEO of Kleanbus said: “With 97% of UK buses powered by diesel engines that emit large amounts of carbon, oxides of nitrogen, and particulate matter – and a staggering 35,000 of them on the road – the country faces a major challenge to rapidly decarbonize this vital transport sector and is struggling to move quickly enough. Replacing these vehicles with new electric buses is very expensive for private companies and government subsidies will take many years given fleet turnover rates. Kleanbus offers a fast and efficient way towards zero-emissions, making buses cleaner, quieter, more comfortable, and more valuable assets for operators.”

— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in Europe. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_