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NewPower secures first order from First Bus just weeks after launch

  • First Bus becomes first UK Bus operator to place order with New Power, a new enterprise that converts diesel buses into Zero Emission Electric Vehicles. 
  • An initial order of 32 buses has been placed that will serve four regions. 

First Bus has become the first UK bus operator to place an order with NewPower – a bold enterprise that converts diesel buses into zero-emission electric vehicles – that will help save thousands of tonnes of CO₂ annually. 

NewPower was launched just weeks ago by world-leading bus manufacturer Wrightbus. It is the first original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to offer a repowering service to help speed up the decarbonisation process by eradicating diesel powertrains in older fleets at a substantially lower price than purchasing a new bus. 

First Bus collaborated with Wrightbus from the outset of this project providing an initial two vehicles to trial and perfect the technology on ahead of the launch of NewPower.  

Following the successful conversion of the first two diesel vehicles, First Bus has now ordered a further thirty buses that will now have their diesel engines replaced with new zero-emission electric powertrains at NewPower’s hi-tech Bicester factory in Oxfordshire. 

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Collectively, when the 32 repowered Zero Emission Buses enter service, they will eliminate tailpipe emissions equivalent to 2,100 tonnes of  CO₂ annually. 

First Bus has committed to ensuring its entire fleet is zero-emission by 2035. The 32 repowered buses will be introduced over the next few months in areas with existing EV infrastructure in Portsmouth, Norwich, Bramley (Leeds), Leicester and Aberdeen; joining a growing EV fleet of over 600 vehicles already serving customers across the First Bus UK network.  

In a cost-effective approach to decarbonisation, the NewPower process converts diesel buses into electric for less than half of the price of a new electric bus – extending their lifespan by six to nine years in the process. As a result, there are significant embodied carbon savings* of refurbishing an older vehicle over manufacturing a new vehicle. 

Repowers can be completed by skilled engineers in as little as three weeks. The process includes the removal of the engine, gearbox, fuel tank, radiator and other components, before the installation of the new EV batteries and electric drive system. The old diesel parts are then recycled. 

Zero-emission vehicles built by Wrightbus have already logged over 14 million miles, preventing more than 24,000 tonnes of CO₂ from polluting the atmosphere. 

This initial order is an important step for both NewPower and First Bus moving forward. 

Wrightbus CEO, Jean-Marc Gales, said: “At Wrightbus, we already have a positive relationship with First Bus, having supplied them with numerous zero-emission buses over recent years. That’s why it’s particularly satisfying to receive NewPower’s first order from them,” he said. 

“By using the expertise of our 1,800-strong Wrightbus workforce – including our master technicians – NewPower has unrivalled expertise in being able to swap powertrains. 

“Once back in service, the repowered buses will have an immediate impact on reducing pollution and improving air quality in the towns and cities in which they operate.” 

First Bus' Decarbonisation Programme Director, Faizan Ahmad, said: “We are thrilled to place this order for an additional 32 repowered buses and to continue our collaboration with Wrightbus on this exciting project.  

“We’ve partnered with the NewPower team from the outset of this initiative and are proud to be a driving force in the zero-emission space once again with another innovative solution. 

“We are committed to achieving a fully electric bus fleet by 2035, and repower technology has the potential to be a real game-changer in helping us reach that goal as well as benefiting the wider bus industry as we work to decarbonise the sector." 

ENDS 

*Embodied carbon savings is the focus on reusing and repurposing assets where possible, to avoid the need for the building of new assets automatically. In this instance, repurposing existing mid-life buses already built.  

Notes to editors

All media enquiries, requests for interviews and imagery for First Bus should be made to: 

Ready10 

firstbus@ready10.media  

Or 

FirstBus.Press@firstbus.co.uk 

Date:  

All media enquiries, requests for interviews and imagery for NewPower and Wrightbus should be made to: 

Sarah Hughes 

Atmos Communications 

07376255251 

sarah.hughes@atmoscomms.com 

Notes to editors: 

About NewPower 

Launched in June 2024 from a state-of-the-art factory in Oxfordshire, NewPower provides an instant solution to decarbonising public transport. 

Initially creating 22 jobs but with 65 staff expected on site by the end of the year, NewPower is the dynamic new arm of Wrightbus which built the world’s first hydrogen bus and the iconic London Routemaster. 

It follows a record-breaking start to 2024 for Wrightbus which has seen the Northern Ireland business named as the fastest-growing large manufacturer in the UK and the fastest-growing bus-maker in the whole of Europe. Wrightbus has also sold more buses in the UK in 2024 than any other manufacturer. 

About First Bus: 

At First Bus, we are on a mission to grow bus usage. We will get behind initiatives that move people out of cars and onto bus. We’re one of the UK’s largest bus operators, delivering over a million passenger journeys every week for the communities we serve. Transforming our business for the better, we’re putting our people and customers at the heart of all we do.  

We’re all about making journeys easier for our customers, which is why we were the first national bus operator to rollout Tap On, Tap Off payment technology across our entire UK fleet of 4500 buses.  Our First Bus app has also been voted ‘best in class’ amongst UK bus operators. First Bus is committed to operating a zero-emission bus fleet by 2035. Approximately 15% of our fleet now comprises of Zero Emission Buses (ZEBs).  

We’re passionate about giving back to the communities we serve, which is why we’re helping local businesses to progress their own decarbonisation journeys with access to our charging hubs while our buses are on the road. We also operate the Aircoach network in Ireland, Specialist Passenger Solutions, First Travel Solutions, York Pullman Bus Company and Ensignbus. First Bus is a division of FirstGroup.     

Find more information on First Bus here: https://news.firstbus.co.uk/