Warrington’s Own Buses says it is reaping the benefits of its Michelin tyre contract as it nears the completion of a total fleet transition from diesel to electric. The operator is in the process of replacing its older vehicles with 105 new zero-emission Volvo BZL Electric buses, all of which are arriving on Michelin’s X InCity EV Z tyres.
Finance Director at Warrington’s Own Buses David Woods said: “We currently have 56 of the 105 new electric buses on the road, with the remainder due to be in operation by the end of March. This has been a long and ambitious project that will bring huge benefits to our business and for the people of Warrington. Having a partner like Michelin on board, who we know we can rely on, offers great peace of mind. We know the new vehicles are operating on the best tyres possible, that are ultra durable and stand the test of time, ensuring we keep any unnecessary downtime to a minimum.”
The business signed an exclusive tyre policy with Michelin’s Services & Solutions division in 2022, and said that the availability of the X InCity EV Z product was an important part of that decision. Designed for electric vehicles but equally suitable for combustion engine buses, Michelin says the multi-position tyres offer excellent safety, longevity and load capacity, while helping operators to reduce their environmental footprint by reducing rolling resistance, which is key to maximising range.
equipped with Michelin InCity tyres. MICHELIN
To handle the additional weight of electric buses, the tyres have an increased load carrying capacity of up to 8 tonnes and use what Michelin says are its most advanced technologies to ensure exceptional mileage potential. “All of the new buses – whether it’s the single or double-deck – will be operating on the Michelin EV tyres. Having one tyre across the entire fleet really makes things easier for us on an operational level,” added David. “Michelin has been very professional and offered us a good level of service since we moved across from our old provider. It has proved to be a very good decision for our business.”
Municipally-owned Warrington’s Own Buses, whose roots date back to 1902, today carries more than six million passengers every year, with its fleet of buses covering approximately 5,000,000 kilometres per year on routes across Cheshire.
