Kleanbus Reveals Modular Platform Capable of Repowering Any Bus From Diesel to Electric

Expert bus repower company Kleanbus today reveals the first images of its advanced modular platform technology, which can turn any single or double-decker bus from ICE to fully electric quickly and cost-effectively.

With climate change escalating and poor air quality in cities reaching critical levels, decarbonising transport has become one of the most significant challenges of our time.

Electrification is the most viable way for bus operators to go green. Still, new electric buses are expensive and can take many months to join a fleet from order placement to delivery.

Repowering – removing the diesel engine or hybrid powertrain from an existing bus and replacing it with a fully electric powertrain – is the fastest and most cost-effective method to transition the UK bus fleet to zero-emission, and Kleanbus’ advanced solution can accelerate that changeover thanks to the company’s unique technology.

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 significant challenge to decarbonise this vital transport sector rapidly 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.”

State-of-The-art E-powertrain

Combining proven and fully warranted electric powertrain components from leading Tier 1 suppliers with Kleanbus’s integration technology and proprietary software, Kleanbus’s platform system is technology agnostic, agile and adaptable. This innovative approach means that Kleanbus can take advantage of the latest componentry, enabling it to leverage various batteries and motors, creating purpose-built e-powertrains tailored precisely to a bus operator’s needs.

The e-motors used by Kleanbus also do not have permanent magnets, so they use no rare earth materials, demanding less of the planet’s resources and limiting the disastrous impact of rare earth metals production.

From its state-of-the-art 9,000 sq ft facility based in the east of England, the Kleanbus repower programme consists of a complete 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, entire 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 are also dramatically lower, at a third of those of a conventional diesel bus, likely to be even more significant with the latest new Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) incentive of 22 pence per kilometre, factored in.

Complete Peace of Mind for Operators

Electric repowered buses from Kleanbus also cost one-fifth of a new electric bus – but thanks to Kleanbus’ partnerships with innovative finance providers, operators can choose several ways in which to finance their vehicle, ranging from paying for the vehicle upfront and leasing the battery, to paying nothing upfront and leasing both the car and the battery. In this way, operators can fund the cost of the repower through operating revenue, maximising the business case.

And thanks to the company’s relationships with charging providers, Kleanbus also arranges for an operator’s depot to be upgraded with appropriate charging technology, enabling them to go electric without contacting third parties, effectively offering a one-stop shop.

Joe Tighe, Co-Founder and CEO of Kleanbus, continued: “I am delighted to reveal the first images of our modular repower platform system, which can be applied to any bus. Leveraging the latest in fully warranted and proven components from leading Tier 1s, this technology agnostic solution enables us to create a flexible ‘e-drivetrain in a box’ integrated into any vehicle via our proprietary software.

“I am hugely proud of our innovative system, but Kleanbus is more than a technology company. We provide a complete one-stop-shop to bus operators, with creative financing and charging as part of the total package, making it easy for them to go to zero emission.

“The potential for repowered buses is, and they could bring about fully electric bus fleets six years earlier than relying on the rollout of new zero-emission buses alone. This could save over 4Mt CO2 and deliver health benefits of improved air quality sooner – and Kleanbus can play a crucial role in accelerating the transition to a clean future while providing lower operating costs for bus fleets.” 

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