Wrightbus has officially confirmed the first order for its new Rightech range of small electric buses. The first six-metre Rightech buses will be heading to Kent, where they will work as part of a demand responsive public transport network across the Ebbsfleet Garden City scheme, and will be charged at public EV charging bays as well as in the local depot, helping to ensure that they spend as much time serving the local community as possible.
The buses have been ordered by Go-Coach. Founder Austin Blackburn said that a test drive was enough to convince him of the buses’ suitability. “Clearly, Wrightbus is at the top of its game and we really wanted to buy a vehicle which was backed by such a well-known manufacturer,” he explained. “The versatility of these Rightech buses is incredible, so we can use them on demand where necessary or they can drop into a fixed line if routes get busy. Ideally, we want our buses running from 0500 to 0100hrs the following morning, so being able to make the most of EV public charging is an added bonus to keeping them on the road.”
Network Development Manager for Kent County Council’s public transport department Shane Hymers said that funding had come from National Highways. “The Ebbsfleet, Dartford and Gravesend areas have seen a huge amount of investment in public transport alongside the new housing developments and millions of pounds of new road infrastructure,” he said. “These buses will form part of a critical zero-emission service to support passengers in that region and will complement a further 28 zero-emission buses that make up our award-winning bus rapid transport system, Fastrack.”
“Wrightbus has been flying the flag for zero emissions long before anyone else,” said CEO Jean-Marc Gales. “We are delighted for Kent, for the quickest way to decarbonise bus fleets is to electrify immediately. Rightech will solve these problems, backed by our portfolio of net-zero companies – supplying everything from product to infrastructure – which will provide more jobs and opportunities for our workforce in Northern Ireland, the rest of the UK and Europe.”
