Wrightbus has secured new deals to deliver even more zero-emission buses to London, with a second order from Abellio London. Abellio, part of the Transport UK Group, has placed new orders for 80 electric buses with the Northern Ireland-based firm, consisting of 24 single-deck GB Kite Electroliners and 56 StreetDeck Electroliners. The deal takes Abellio’s total order of StreetDeck Electroliners with Wrightbus to over 100.
The new buses will be rolled out in 2024, and will include new-look Kites which come with a number of new safety features to make them compliant with Transport for London’s bus safety standards, including front and nearside blindspot warnings, a tyre pressure monitoring system, an automated emergency braking system, and a dynamic stability test, and will feature upgraded interiors to offer a better travelling environment.
They will be fitted with Lazzerini high-back seats throughout and a wood-effect floor. USB chargers and mobile phone holders will also be fitted, and priority seats will feature a contrasting colour scheme. The vehicles will also have a larger wheelchair and buggy area, improving accessibility.
Jon Eardley, Managing Director of Abellio, said: “Abellio sits at the forefront of EV bus technology in London, leading the way with the introduction of zero-emission buses across our six London depots. We are proud to support Transport for London and the Mayor of London’s goals to decarbonise London’s streets.
“Abellio’s investment in state-of-the-art EV fleet and comprehensive infrastructure has already provided millions of customers with comfortable, cleaner, and greener journeys. We are very excited about the future as we energise all six of our London depots and work in partnership with Wrightbus to serve our customers with innovative zero-emission journeys.”
Wrightbus CEO Jean-Marc Gales said: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Abellio to further demonstrate their commitment to offering even more zero-emission public transport in London. It has been a real team effort between Wrightbus and Abellio to deliver these orders, which will help customers enjoy cleaner transport.
“We’re immensely proud of the reputation we have forged in the zero-emission transport sector and the important role we are playing in the UK’s ambitions for decarbonisation. All of the buses will be manufactured and assembled at our Ballymena factory, which means support for jobs in Northern Ireland, and wider across the UK through our domestic supply chain.”