Equipmake extends bus repowering deal with Golden Tours
Sightseeing firm Golden Tours has signed a new contract with EV specialist Equipmake to electrify more of its tour buses.
The two firms initially agreed a £2 million deal in February for Equipmake to convert some of Golden Tours’s vehicles using its in-house developed zero-emission drivetrain (ZED). They have now extended this to cover the conversion of another 10 Volvo B5 buses used for tours around London.
Commenting on the contract, Ian Foley, CEO, Equipmake said: “This new contract is testament to the quality and reliability of our products and reflects an increasing move in the sector towards sustainable operational alternatives. Equipmake’s bus repowering provides an economically compelling alternative to purchasing new electric vehicles and we are delighted that we can support Golden Tours as it works to make its fleet sustainable.”
Golden Tours was established in 1984 and specialises in London sightseeing and UK tourism, providing tours around the capital and day trips to UK locations such as Stonehenge and Bath. Golden Tours has an established partnership with internationally renowned Gray Line Association, the largest sightseeing tour company globally, and is a preferred partner of Warner Bros. Studio Tour London.
Mikesh Palan, managing director at Golden Tours, said: “By extending our relationship with Equipmake, Golden Tours is ensuring its operations are as sustainable as possible. We offer bus services to the UK’s most famous and iconic locations, and by partnering with Equipmake, we will enhance our services for thousands of passengers a day.
The cutting-edge capabilities of Equipmake’s zero-emission drivetrain and its many cost, sustainability and efficiency advantages highlighted clear benefits of this continued partnership. We look forward to bringing these electric buses into service and continuing to put sustainability at the forefront of our business strategy.”
Equipmake’s ZED, which will be integrated in each Golden Tours bus, is a modular and scalable repowering solution that can be used in both single and double-decker vehicles. The technology features Equipmake’s in-house developed electric motor, inverter, and power electronics, which are combined with the latest lithium-ion batteries.
It is estimated that repurposing a bus’ existing chassis and body in conjunction with the ZED saves 90 tonnes of CO2 and costs less than half the price of a new electric bus.
