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Electric Buses

Big bus tours adds 40 electric sightseeing buses to its fleet.

Global open-top tour bus operator Big Bus Tours has added 40 electric sightseeing buses to its fleet in time for the summer holiday season.

Big Bus Tours is introducing 20 brand-new Ankai electric buses in Paris and Vienna and retrofitting 20 buses in London by converting 20 of the existing diesel fleet to electric.

The new electric tour buses in Paris and Vienna are purpose-built electric sightseeing buses supplied by Ankai Anhui. The buses have 315 kW battery packs, sending power to the road through a ZF hub-motor axle. The buses can DC fast charge within four to six hours, depending on the grid load.

In London, the original buses are 2012 Ankai tri-axle diesel converted to fully electric by Equipmake. The conversion entails fitting a 327 kW battery pack that sends power to a single motor driving directly into the existing axles. The buses can be charged either AC or DC. The London buses are only used during the day, so they’ll be charged overnight on 22 kW chargers.

“We are thrilled to welcome these new electric buses as part of our investment in sustainability,” said Pat Waterman, executive chairman of Big Bus Tours. “This EV expansion is a major step forward in reducing our carbon footprint and enhancing the tour experience for our customers.”

The electric buses in all three European cities will hit the road this summer, bringing the company’s total electric fleet to 51 (just over 10% of its global fleet).

Read more: In a US first, Seattle to deploy double-decker electric buses with inductive wireless charging

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Big Bus Tours to add 40 electric buses to sightseeing fleet

Global sightseeing company Big Bus Tours has announced that it will add a further 40 electric buses to its fleet by summer 2024. That includes new buses and conversions.

• Big Bus Tours

This expansion of the fleet consists of 20 brand-new electric buses from the Chinese manufacturer Ankai (see image), which will be introduced in Paris and Vienna. In addition, 20 combustion buses from the existing fleet will be converted into electric buses to be used again in London. The conversion will be carried out by the specialist Equipmake, which announced the order a few months ago, as reported.

The 100 per cent electric double-decker buses with open tops will be put into operation this summer, bringing the total electric fleet of Big Bus Tours to 51 vehicles. This represents just over 10 per cent of Big Bus Tours’ global fleet. The British company is active in numerous European countries, but also in Australia, India, Malaysia and the US.

The buses have a new paintwork which, according to Big Bus Tours, emphasises the company’s commitment to a greener future. “We are thrilled to welcome these new electric buses as part of our investment in sustainability,” said Pat Waterman, Executive Chairman of Big Bus Tours. “This EV expansion is a major step forward in reducing our carbon footprint and enhancing the tour experience for our customers. I look forward to seeing our guests enjoy these environmentally-friendly tours in our fantastic cities.”

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Equipmake will convert to electric drivetrain 10 Big Bus Tours sightseeing buses in London

Equipmake has been awarded a contract to repower 10 open-top tour buses for use on London sightseeing services. First repowered Big Bus Tours vehicle to enter service in Q1 2024. Within this order, Ankai buses will be converted from diesel to fully electric with Equipmake’s state-of-the-art Zero Emission Drivetrain technology. Each new bus will have […]

Equipmake has been awarded a contract to repower 10 open-top tour buses for use on London sightseeing services . First repowered Big Bus Tours vehicle to enter service in Q1 2024.

Within this order, Ankai buses will be converted from diesel to fully electric with Equipmake’s state-of-the-art Zero Emission Drivetrain technology. Each new bus will have a range of 120 miles from a 327kWh battery, suitable for daily tour routes across London, according to Equipmake.

The deal Equipmake – Big Bus Tours

The 10 vehicles scheduled for repowering are all Ankai double-deck sightseeing buses – and each will be converted to incorporate Equipmake’s Zero-Emission Drivetrain (ZED) technology, which in this specification features a 327kWh capacity battery , providing in excess of 120 mile daily range.

The ZED, which is completely modular and scalable and can be applied to single as well as double-decker buses, features Equipmake’s in-house developed electric motor, inverter, and power electronics, combined with lithium-ion batteries . In addition, one of its most important features is Equipmake’s patented thermal management system, which maintains all three of the ZED’s key components – the battery pack, motor, and inverter – at an optimum operating temperature, maximising vehicle range. “Featuring an advanced water-glycol cooling circuit, the system has the added benefit of providing interior heating during cold conditions with captured thermal energy. When the battery is depleted at the end of a complete duty cycle, it can be recharged at the depot overnight via a CSS DC charging point”, Equipmake adds.

Equipmake repowering Big Bus Tours in London

Ian Foley , CEO of Equipmake, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Big Bus Tours as it continues to make its fleet more sustainable. It’s fantastic to work with companies that share a forward-thinking mindset and recognise the immense advantages of repowering. By choosing to repower, Big Bus Tours will not only benefit from an excellent opportunity to achieve net-zero targets and play a key role in improving local air quality, but also make significant operating cost savings over the purchase of a new electric bus .”

Gerry Price , Executive Vice President at Big Bus Tours, added: “Our partnership with Equipmake will significantly support us as we transition our fleet to zero emissions. The state-of-the-art technology it has developed and its shared commitment to sustainability makes this a hugely exciting opportunity for us. Through innovations like this, we will be playing our part in improving the capital’s air quality and giving the hundreds of thousands of tourists who use our sightseeing services every year an even more enjoyable experience.”

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Big Bus Tours

Big bus tours looks to a green future with launch of custom built zero emission electric bus.

BIG BUS TOURS today announced the introduction of its’ first new-build, fully electric open-top bus, following substantial investment in environmentally focused R&D.

Due to take to the roads shortly, the 100% electric bus will operate in Paris, as part of a global initiative to produce a cleaner, greener sightseeing transport experience for visitors, as they enjoy the city sights.

The new vehicle follows substantial research and development investment by Big Bus Tours into improving air quality in the cities they operate in. The company’s global research commenced 2 years ago with the launch of retro-fitted Dennis Condors in Washington DC, renovated to open top for sightseeing purposes. The buses were converted from diesel to pure electric drive, with power provided by lithium ion batteries. The US city now counts 3 electric vehicles within its fleet.

The first retrofitted electric bus proved a great success with thousands of Washington DC customers and staff alike, due to near silent operation, no vibrations associated with a normal diesel product, and absolutely no exhaust system or emissions into the environment. Due to its popularity, Big Bus Tours added two further 100% electric buses to the Washington DC fleet.

The new electric bus, set to launch in Paris, is the first purpose built electric vehicle by Big Bus Tours. Rather than retrofitting former diesel vehicles, this brand new electric bus was commissioned from their long term partner Ankai Automotive, following the success of the Washington DC roll out.

Testing will take place, once the bespoke bus is operating on the streets of Paris, with Big Bus Tours using the findings to produce its future purchasing strategy, considering the part electric vehicles will play in this, alongside other more traditional and other new energy alternatives.

Alex Payne CEO of Big Bus Tours said, “As an environmentally responsible company, and importantly one that receives no outside funding for these types of projects, the introduction of the electric bus is another milestone to celebrate in what has already been a successful year of positive improvements in our global bus fleet. As the world’s leading owner-operator of hop-on hop-off sightseeing tours, we want help to solve the air quality challenge facing big cities, and we are keen to lead the way in improving air quality in the sightseeing field. As a result, I’m thrilled to launch Paris’ first 100% electric Hop-on Hop-Off Sightseeing bus today, which has been a product of an extensive period of testing and learning with our electric retrofitted buses in the US. Our vision is to be the number one thing to do in every world-famous city, and the quality and specifications of vehicles is an important part of that goal. We are looking forward to the next generation of vehicle development, and giving our customers another reason to choose us as their preferred provider”

We are working closely with authorities in the cities to find solutions to continually improve our fleet and address the issue” he added.

Gerry Price, Executive Vice President of Operations at Big Bus Tours said of the Paris launch: “We’re excited to introduce an electric vehicle to our European fleet having launched the first electric vehicles in the United States in 2015. Over the course of the past two years, the introduction of the converted electric buses has brought about a significant reduction in emissions in Washington DC and our first new-build electric bus in Paris seeks to reduce emissions still further”.

“Electric vehicles are a significant investment for our business as they carry the heavy premium all new technologies do. This final phase of our testing plan has completed a period of significant R&D into creating a more environmentally-friendly service as well as a better experience for our customers, and will inform our future purchasing strategy globally.”  He added, “While the conversions are expensive, some of this is recouped over the operational lifetime of the bus, as operational costs are only 10% of the cost of a diesel equivalent.”

Big Bus Tours electric repower project doubles to 20 vehicles

Big Bus Tours has doubled in size a contract with Equipmake for the repower to battery-electric of diesel open-top double-deckers in its London fleet. The deal will now see 20 of those processed by the supplier, with 327kW/h of installed energy storage to give a range of 120 miles.

All the buses to be repowered are Ankai models. The first completed example will re-enter service during Q1, with three to have been returned to Big Bus by May, and the project completed by January 2025.

An initial deal for 10 repowers was signed by Big Bus Tours and Equipmake in September 2023. Equipmake will use its modular Zero-Emission Driveline (ZED) product, which it says is configured in a “completely bespoke” manner to suit the vehicles in question and combined with simulation of route requirements to ensure that optimum battery capacity is used.

The deal to repower all 20 buses is worth £3.5 million. Extension of the collaboration represents further growth in the market to convert open-top sightseeing buses to zero-emission, with at least two other operators having confirmed such work.

Speaking about the expanded repower agreement with Equipmake, Big Bus Tours Executive Vice-President – Group Operations Gerry Price says: “As part of our drive for global net-zero, Equipmake’s performance to date with the development of the first 10 buses ordered made the decision to increase the number an easy one, and will further progress our class-leading zero-emission status in the London tourism market.”

Equipmake’s scalable ZED utilises an in-house developed electric motor, inverter and power electronics coupled to lithium-ion batteries. It comes with what the supplier says is a highly efficient thermal management system to maintain batteries, motor and inverter at their optimum temperature, maximising range.

CEO Ian Foley describes the ZED as “industry-leading,” noting that it “continues to impress new and existing customers, as evidenced by the extension of this contract with Big Bus Tours.”

Adds Mr Foley: “This agreement will double the size of its fully electric repowered fleet, demonstrating both the quality and efficacy of our state-of-the-art technology, and the level of investment being made across the transport sector as it moves towards a net-zero future.”

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Equipmake to Repower 10 Big Bus Tours Double-Decker Buses

Equipmake has been selected by Big Bus Tours to repower 10 double-decker, open-top buses with its electric drivetrain technology.

Big Bus Tours is considered the largest sightseeing company worldwide, providing hop-on, hop-off services for tourists.

To advance its commitment to sustainability, the company has contracted Equipmake to convert 10 of its Ankai double-deck sightseeing vehicles operating in London from diesel to electric power.

Gerry Price, Executive Vice President at Big Bus Tours, said: Our partnership with Equipmake will significantly support us as we transition our fleet to zero emissions. The state-of-the-art technology it has developed and its shared commitment to sustainability makes this a hugely exciting opportunity for us. Through innovations like this, we will be playing our part in improving the capital’s air quality and giving the hundreds of thousands of tourists who use our sightseeing services every year an even more enjoyable experience.

The buses will be fitted with Equipmake’s Zero-Emission Drivetrain (ZED) technology, which features a 327 kWh capacity battery to offer a daily range of over 120 miles.

The first of these repowered vehicles is scheduled to enter service at the start of 2024.

Ian Foley, CEO, Equipmake, said: We are delighted to be partnering with Big Bus Tours as it continues to make its fleet more sustainable. It’s fantastic to work with companies that share a forward-thinking mindset and recognise the immense advantages of repowering. By choosing to repower, Big Bus Tours will not only benefit from an excellent opportunity to achieve net-zero targets and play a key role in improving local air quality, but also make significant operating cost savings over the purchase of a new electric bus.

• Double Deckers
• Electric Vehicles
• United Kingdom

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Posted by Kate Harden-England on Jun 3rd, 2024 at 11:56

Big Bus Tours expands electric bus fleet

Firm en route to greener future

Open-top bus sightseeing company Big Bus Tours has announced it will introduce a further 40 electric buses to its fleet by Summer 2024.

This electric vehicle (EV) expansion is made up of 20 brand new Ankai electric buses being introduced to Paris and Vienna, and 20 retrofit electric buses in London, through the conversion of 20 of the existing fleet. 

The 100% electric vehicles will be in operation this summer, bringing the total electric fleet to 51 (just over 10% of Big Bus Tours’ global fleet). 

The buses feature an updated livery, which Big Bus Tours has said highlights its commitment to being "en route to a greener future.”

"We are thrilled to welcome these new electric buses as part of our investment in sustainability." said Pat Waterman, Executive Chairman of Big Bus Tours. 

"This EV expansion is a major step forward in reducing our carbon footprint and enhancing the tour experience for our customers. 

"I look forward to seeing our guests enjoy these environmentally-friendly tours in our fantastic cities." 

In addition to expanding our electric fleet, the Big Bus Tours' Sustainability Team has been actively engaged in several other company-wide initiatives, including:

The group has also made an investment in Electric Vehicles across other areas of the Big Bus Group, including the arrival of an Electric Duck in Singapore later this year. 

It's also been collaborating with suppliers to build eco-friendly practices to minimise the carbon footprint of operations. 

Big Bus has recently introduced headphones that use 35% less carbon, and are distributed in 100% biodegradable packaging.

It's been using technology for sustainability practice too by reconfiguring tour routes in a way that both enhances customer experience and reduces carbon emissions, with a significant reduction achieved since 2019.

It has used new technologies to reduce carbon emissions, including battery optimisation, renewable energy integration, and the use of sustainable materials.

"Our sustainability journey is not just about reducing our environmental impact today, it's about shaping a better future for generations to come," said Herman Wa, group sustainability manager of Big Bus Tours. 

"We believe that every step we take today, big and small, contributes to a more environmentally friendly tomorrow."

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Posted September 29, 2023 By Equipmake In Press releases , Uncategorised ,

EQUIPMAKE SIGNS ELECTRIC BUS REPOWER FLEET DEAL WITH BIG BUS TOURS

Friday 29 September 2023: Equipmake has partnered with the World’s  largest sightseeing company, Big Bus Tours, in a fleet deal that will see 10 double-deck, open-top buses repowered with Equipmake’s cutting edge electric zero emission electric drivetrain technology.

As millions of tourists arrive into the capital every week, many Hop On an iconic open-top tour bus to see the city’s famous and historic sites. Supporting Big Bus Tours’ commitment to sustainability, Equipmake is working with the operator to convert a significant proportion of its existing fleet from diesel to fully electric.      The 10 vehicles scheduled for repowering are all Ankai double-deck sightseeing buses – and each will be converted to incorporate Equipmake’s cutting-edge Zero-Emission Drivetrain (ZED) technology, which in this specification features an 327 kWh capacity battery, providing in excess of  120 mile daily range. The first vehicle will enter service in Q1 2024.

Ian Foley, CEO, Equipmake, said: “ We are delighted to be partnering with Big Bus Tours as it continues to make its fleet more sustainable. It’s fantastic to work with companies that share a forward-thinking mindset and recognise the immense advantages of repowering. By choosing to repower, Big Bus Tours will not only benefit from an excellent opportunity to achieve net-zero targets and play a key role in improving local air quality, but also make significant operating cost savings over the purchase of a new electric bus. ”

Gerry Price, Executive Vice President at Big Bus Tours, added:” Our partnership with Equipmake will significantly support us as we transition our fleet to zero emissions. The state-of-the-art technology it has developed and its shared commitment to sustainability makes this a hugely exciting opportunity for us. Through innovations like this, we will be playing our part in improving the capital’s air quality and giving the hundreds of thousands of tourists who use our sightseeing services every year an even more enjoyable experience. “

Latest News:

Posted September 4, 2024 By Equipmake In Press releases , Uncategorised ,

4th Sept 2024: Equipmake, the electrification engineering specialist pioneering a range of integrated electrification products for the automotive, aerospace, bus, coach and off-highway industries, announces another addition to its proprietary technology portfolio: a new, sector-leading, heavy duty electric motor with double…

Posted August 29, 2024 By Equipmake In Press releases , Uncategorised ,

29th August 2024: Equipmake, a market leader in engineering-driven differentiated electrification technologies, products and solutions across the automotive, truck, bus and speciality vehicle industries, is pleased to announce that it has received an initial order for five Zero Emission Drivetrains…

Posted June 27, 2024 By Equipmake In Press releases , Uncategorised ,

27th June 2024: Equipmake, the electrification engineering specialist pioneering a range of integrated electrification products for the automotive, aerospace, bus, coach and off-highway industries, announces a sector-leading new repower solution for the Wrightbus Streetdeck. Launched in 2014, the Streetdeck is one…

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European sightseeing tours go electric—Big Bus Tours deploys 40 electric buses

Posted June 9, 2024 by Charles Morris & filed under Fleets and Infrastructure , Newswire , The Vehicles .

They ply the streets of every major European city—double-decker buses with open top decks, loaded with tourists taking in the sights. Like every other class of vehicle, these tour buses are starting to go electric.

Multinational tour bus operator Big Bus Tours has added 40 electric sightseeing buses to its fleet, just in time for the summer holiday season. The company is introducing 20 new Ankai electric buses in Paris and Vienna, and retrofitting 20 buses in London by converting 20 of its existing diesel buses to EVs.

The addition of the new electric buses in the three European cities will bring the company’s total electric fleet to 51, about 10% of its global fleet.

The new electric tour buses in Paris and Vienna are purpose-built electric sightseeing buses supplied by Chinese OEM Ankai . Each bus has a 315 kW battery pack and a ZF hub-motor axle. They support DC fast charging.

In London, Big Bus is converting 2012 Ankai tri-axle diesel buses to fully electric drive. Vehicle electrification specialist Equipmake is performing the conversions, fitting each bus with a 327 kW battery pack and a single motor that drives the existing axles. The buses can use either AC or DC charging. The London buses are only used during the day, so they’ll be charged overnight on 22 kW Level 2 chargers.

“This EV expansion is a major step forward in reducing our carbon footprint and enhancing the tour experience for our customers,” said Pat Waterman, Executive Chairman of Big Bus Tours.

Source: Big Bus Tours via Electrek

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Zenobē partners with Big Bus Tours to launch new electric fleet

Zenobē, a pioneer in electrifying transport fleets, has partnered with Big Bus Tours to deliver 20 sustainable open-top buses and the associated charging infrastructure to transform London’s sightseeing experience.

Serving iconic London landmarks including Big Ben, Tower Bridge and Tower of London, the new vehicles support the growing desire for greener tourism options, with 79% of travellers globally saying they want to use environmentally friendly modes of transport while on holiday 1 .

The agreement sees Zenobē financing the e-buses, in the company’s first retrofit project, as well as providing a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to enable Big Bus to be more proactive and agile with their energy costs.

Big Bus’ existing 10-year-old open-top Ankai diesel buses are making the switch from diesel to electric, after being repowered with a 328 kWh LG Chem Battery and powertrain, by Equipmake Limited.

Zenobē has also installed 10 temporary Direct Current (DC) chargers at Big Buses’ Wimbledon depot. This solution has enabled Big Bus to get their retrofitted fleet on the road in time for the busy spring, summer season and before the upgrade of the local electricity grid is complete.

The final of the first 10 buses has just entered into service and a further 10 at the end of the year.

Steven Meersman, Founder of Zenobē, said: “We are working with Big Bus and Equipmake to deliver cleaner transport for London – one of the world’s most visited cities. Research shows travellers are increasingly looking for ways to reduce their impact when on holiday, and leading operators like Big Bus have recognised that going electric is not just the right thing to do, but also a competitive advantage. We’re excited to explore more opportunities like this to speed up decarbonisation of the transport sector in the UK.”

Pat Waterman, Chairman at Big Bus Tours, said: “We take immense pride in leading the change towards electric vehicles in the sightseeing industry. Our commitment to sustainability is not just words, we are taking concrete actions to ensure a cleaner and greener future for our customers, future generations and our planet.”

1 Booking.com 2021 Sustainable Travel Report   news.booking.com/download/1037578/booking.comsustainabletravelreport2021.pdf

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Signs Electric Bus Repower Fleet Deal With Big Bus Tours

• Automotive , Hospitality & Leisure , Transport & Logistics
• October 23, 2023

As millions of tourists arrive into the capital every week, many hop on an iconic open-top tour bus to see the city’s famous and historic sites. Supporting Big Bus Tours’ commitment to sustainability, Equipmake is working with the operator to convert a significant proportion of its existing fleet from diesel to fully electric.

The 10 vehicles scheduled for repowering are all Ankai double-deck sightseeing buses – and each will be converted to incorporate Equipmake’s cutting-edge Zero-Emission Drivetrain (ZED) technology, which in this specification features a 327kWh capacity battery, providing in excess of 120 mile daily range. The first vehicle will enter service in Q1 2024.

Ian Foley, CEO of Equipmake, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Big Bus Tours as it continues to make its fleet more sustainable. It’s fantastic to work with companies that share a forward-thinking mindset and recognise the immense advantages of repowering. By choosing to repower, Big Bus Tours will not only benefit from an excellent opportunity to achieve net-zero targets and play a key role in improving local air quality, but also make significant operating cost savings over the purchase of a new electric bus.”

Gerry Price, Executive Vice President at Big Bus Tours, added: “Our partnership with Equipmake will significantly support us as we transition our fleet to zero emissions. The state-of-the-art technology it has developed and its shared commitment to sustainability makes this a hugely exciting opportunity for us. Through innovations like this, we will be playing our part in improving the capital’s air quality and giving the hundreds of thousands of tourists who use our sightseeing services every year an even more enjoyable experience.”

Each Equipmake repower is completely bespoke to the requirements of the specific vehicle with service routes simulated to ensure the optimum battery level is selected, and that required mileage is achievable.

The ZED, which is completely modular and scalable and can be applied to single as well as double-decker buses, features Equipmake’s in-house developed electric motor, inverter, and power electronics, combined with the latest in lithium-ion batteries. In addition, one of its most important features is Equipmake’s patented ultra-efficient thermal management system, which maintains all three of the ZED’s key components – the battery pack, motor, and inverter – at an optimum operating temperature, maximising vehicle range.

Featuring an advanced water-glycol cooling circuit, the system has the added benefit of providing interior heating during cold conditions with captured thermal energy. When the battery is depleted at the end of a complete duty cycle, it can be recharged at the depot overnight via a CSS DC charging point.

By choosing to repower existing buses using Equipmake’s revolutionary technology and methods, significant cost and environmental benefits are achievable. Repurposing an existing bus chassis and body can save 90 tonnes of embedded CO2, in comparison to producing brand new electric double deck buses. Each conversion costs less than half of a new electric bus, and with most buses in service for 14 years or more, operators can make significant savings by repowering a bus halfway through its operational life.

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Big Bus Tours Expands Electric Fleet for Summer 2024

Big Bus Tours has announced plans to introduce 40 additional electric buses to its fleet by Summer 2024. The move will see 20 new Ankai electric buses deployed in Paris and Vienna, and 20 retrofitted electric buses operating in London.

This significant update will bring the total number of electric buses in the company's fleet to 51, which represents just over 10% of their global operations. The new electric buses will begin service this summer, featuring a refreshed design that underscores Big Bus Tours' commitment to sustainability.

Pat Waterman, Executive Chairman of Big Bus Tours, expressed enthusiasm about the expansion, noting, "This EV expansion is a major step forward in reducing our carbon footprint and enhancing the tour experience for our customers."

The Sustainability Team at Big Bus Tours has been active in implementing several eco-friendly initiatives across the company. In addition to the electric bus expansion, the company plans to introduce an Electric Duck vehicle in Singapore later this year. Efforts are also underway to collaborate with suppliers on reducing the carbon footprint of operations, including the use of new headphones that reduce carbon emissions by 35% and are packaged in biodegradable materials.

Technological advancements have played a crucial role in these efforts. The company has reconfigured tour routes to enhance customer experience while cutting down on carbon emissions. Since 2019, these changes have led to significant reductions in the company's environmental impact. Additionally, new technologies such as battery optimization, renewable energy integration, and sustainable materials are being employed to further reduce emissions.

Herman Wa, group sustainability manager of Big Bus Tours, emphasized the long-term vision of their sustainability efforts, stating, "Our sustainability journey is not just about reducing our environmental impact today, it's about shaping a better future for generations to come."

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Big Bus Tours signs electric bus repower fleet deal with Equipmake

Equipmake has partnered with the world’s largest sightseeing company, Big Bus Tours, in a fleet deal that will see 10 double-deck, open-top buses in London repowered with its electric zero emission electric drivetrain technology.

The vehicles scheduled for repowering are all Ankai double-deck sightseeing buses, and each will be converted to incorporate Equipmake’s Zero-Emission Drivetrain (ZED) technology, which in this specification includes a 327kWh capacity battery, providing a 120 mile daily range.

Its first vehicle will enter service in Q1 2024.

The ZED, which is completely modular and scalable and can be applied to single as well as double-decker buses, features Equipmake’s in-house developed electric motor, inverter, and power electronics, combined with the latest in lithium-ion batteries.

One of its most important features is Equipmake’s patented thermal management system, which maintains all three of the ZED’s key components – the battery pack, motor, and inverter – at an optimum operating temperature, maximising vehicle range.

Featuring an advanced water-glycol cooling circuit, the system has the added benefit of providing interior heating during cold conditions with captured thermal energy. When the battery is depleted at the end of a complete duty cycle, it can be recharged at the depot overnight via a CSS DC charging point.

Ian Foley, CEO of Equipmake, said, “By choosing to repower, Big Bus Tours will not only benefit from an excellent opportunity to achieve net-zero targets and play a key role in improving local air quality, but also make significant operating cost savings over the purchase of a new electric bus.”

Gerry Price, Executive Vice President at Big Bus Tours, said: “Our partnership with Equipmake will significantly support us as we transition our fleet to zero emissions.”

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Home › News Releases › Zenobē partners with Big Bus Tours to launch new electric fleet

Zenobē partners with Big Bus Tours to launch new electric fleet

Zenobē, a pioneer in electrifying transport fleets, has partnered with Big Bus Tours to deliver 20 sustainable open-top buses and the associated charging infrastructure to transform London’s sightseeing experience

• By Automotive World
• June 21, 2024

Zenobē, a pioneer in electrifying transport fleets, has partnered with Big Bus Tours to deliver 20 sustainable open-top buses and the associated charging infrastructure to transform London’s sightseeing experience.

Serving iconic London landmarks including Big Ben, Tower Bridge and Tower of London, the new vehicles support the growing desire for greener tourism options, with 79% of travellers globally saying they want to use environmentally friendly modes of transport while on holiday 1 .

The agreement sees Zenobē financing the e-buses, in the company’s first retrofit project, as well as providing a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to enable Big Bus to be more proactive and agile with their energy costs.

Big Bus’ existing 10-year-old open-top Ankai diesel buses are making the switch from diesel to electric, after being repowered with a 328 kWh LG Chem Battery and powertrain, by Equipmake Limited.

Zenobē has also installed 10 temporary Direct Current (DC) chargers at Big Buses’ Wimbledon depot. This solution has enabled Big Bus to get their retrofitted fleet on the road in time for the busy spring, summer season and before the upgrade of the local electricity grid is complete.

The final of the first 10 buses has just entered into service and a further 10 at the end of the year.

Steven Meersman, Founder of Zenobē, said:  “We are working with Big Bus and Equipmake to deliver cleaner transport for London – one of the world’s most visited cities. Research shows travellers are increasingly looking for ways to reduce their impact when on holiday, and leading operators like Big Bus have recognised that going electric is not just the right thing to do, but also a competitive advantage. We’re excited to explore more opportunities like this to speed up decarbonisation of the transport sector in the UK.”

Pat Waterman, Chairman at Big Bus Tours, said:  “We take immense pride in leading the change towards electric vehicles in the sightseeing industry. Our commitment to sustainability is not just words, we are taking concrete actions to ensure a cleaner and greener future for our customers, future generations and our planet.”

SOURCE: Zenobē

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Big Bus Tours adds 40 electric sightseeing buses to its fleet

7 June 2024

Global open-top tour bus operator Big Bus Tours has added 40 electric sightseeing buses to its fleet in time for the summer holiday season.

Big Bus Tours is introducing 20 brand-new Ankai electric buses in Paris and Vienna and retrofitting 20 buses in London by converting 20 of the existing diesel fleet to electric.

The new electric tour buses in Paris and Vienna are purpose-built electric sightseeing buses supplied by Ankai Anhui. The buses have 315 kW battery packs, sending power to the road through a ZF hub-motor axle. The buses can DC fast charge within four to six hours, depending on the grid load.

In London, the original buses are 2012 Ankai tri-axle diesel converted to fully electric by Equipmake. The conversion entails fitting a 327 kW battery pack that sends power to a single motor driving directly into the existing axles. The buses can be charged either AC or DC. The London buses are only used during the day, so they’ll be charged overnight on 22 kW chargers.

“We are thrilled to welcome these new electric buses as part of our investment in sustainability,” said Pat Waterman, executive chairman of Big Bus Tours. “This EV expansion is a major step forward in reducing our carbon footprint and enhancing the tour experience for our customers.”

The electric buses in all three European cities will hit the road this summer, bringing the company’s total electric fleet to 51 (just over 10% of its global fleet).

Read more: In a US first, Seattle to deploy double-decker electric buses with inductive wireless charging

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Big bus tours working on 20 open-top electric buses.

Zenobē , a United Kingdom-based specialist in electrifying transport fleets, has partnered with Big Bus Tours to deliver 20 sustainable open-top buses and the associated charging infrastructure to transform London’s sightseeing experience.

Serving iconic London landmarks including Big Ben, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London, the new vehicles support the growing desire for greener tourism options, with 79% of travelers globally saying they want to use environmentally friendly modes of transport while on holiday.

Under the agreement, Zenobē will finance the e-buses as part of the company’s first retrofit project, as well as providing a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to enable Big Bus to be more proactive and flexible with its energy costs.

Big Bus’ existing 10-year-old open-top Ankai diesel buses are switching from diesel to electric, after being repowered with a 328-kWh LG Chem Battery and powertrain produced by Equipmake Limited .

Zenobē has also installed 10 temporary direct-current (DC) chargers at Big Buses’ Wimbledon depot. This has enabled Big Bus to get its retrofitted fleet on the road in time for the busy spring/summer season and before the upgrade of the local electricity grid is complete.

The last of the first 10 buses has just entered into service, and a further 10 will be activated at the end of 2024.

“We are working with Big Bus and Equipmake to deliver cleaner transport for London — one of the world’s most visited cities,” says Steven Meersman, founder of Zenobē. “Research shows travelers are increasingly looking for ways to reduce their impact when on holiday, and leading operators like Big Bus have recognized that going electric is not just the right thing to do, but also a competitive advantage. We’re excited to explore more opportunities like this to speed up decarbonization of the transport sector in the U.K.”

“We take immense pride in leading the change toward electric vehicles in the sightseeing industry,” adds Pat Waterman, chairman of Big Bus. “Our commitment to sustainability is not just words; we are taking concrete actions to ensure a cleaner and greener future for our customers, future generations and our planet.”

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Big Bus Tours adds 40 electric sightseeing buses to its fleet

Global open-top tour bus operator Big Bus Tours has added 40 electric sightseeing buses to its fleet in time for the summer holiday season.

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Tootbus vs Big Bus Paris: Which Tour Company is Best for You?

TootBus Paris Tours? TootBus offers 7 separate tour options which operate across 6 different routes providing a wide range of experiences and sights to see. Therese tours are:

TooTBus: Paris Hop On Hop Off with Visit the Versailles Palace

TooTBus: Paris Discovery Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus Tour

TooTBus: Paris Must-See Hop-On, Hop-Off with Cruise

TooTBus: Paris By Night Panoramic Open-Top Bus Tour

TooTBus: Paris Discovery Hop-On, Hop-Off with Night Bus Tour

TooTBus: Paris Kids Panoramic Bus Tour

TooTBus: Paris Panoramic Christmas Lights Tour

• Free wifi on bus
• Audio Guide in 10 languages: English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Brazilian, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic and Russian
• Kids Audio-Guide Available in English and French
• Free earphones on board the bus.
• Air-conditioning available
• Wheelchair accessible
• 24 hour cancellation without charge
• Infants can travel for free (up to 2 infants per adult)  

Big bus offers two core tours, a daytime hop-on hop-off tour and a night time variation. These tours are on the red route line and can be seen here:

Big Bus Tours: Paris Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus Tour

Big Bus Paris Sightseeing Night Tour By Open-Top Bus

Big Bus Paris Pricing

Big Bus offers a range of pricing that starts from the basic, 24 hour Discovery ticket, to the 48 hour Explore ticket with included night tour.

For discounted prices, check our best deals for Paris Bus Tours .

Big Bus Paris Inclusions

• Audio Guide in 11 languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, Arabic, Korean or Mandarin Chinese.
• Seine river cruise included on essential and explore tickets

Conclusion: Which Tour is Best?

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Things You Should Carry on Hop On Hop Off Buses

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For groups of 12 or more, you may send us an inquiry at [email protected]. Although we do not guarantee bulk deals for all our tours, there are some tours for which we can offer discounted pricing. Ordinary hop-on-hop-off bus tickets are entitled to group savings. Attractions, pass items and combo tickets aren't.

Due the nature of this type of tour and varying demand, group travellers should be aware that there is no guarantee that the group will be able to travel altogether as the available seats vary from stop to stop and depends on demand each day. The group may need to split up and/or wait for the next bus(s).

As, we cannot guarantee that the group shall be able to travel together as one group, therefore we will reduce the group size down to 4-5 smaller groups per ticket (depending upon group size).

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Big Bus Hop-On Hop-Off Tours

Big Bus was a company that provided sightseeing tours around Vancouver. Today it operates as Hop-On, Hop-Off Sightseeing as part of Westcoast Sightseeing .

The name has changed, but it still does the same thing.

Vancouver Sightseeing Bus Tours

Hop-On, Hop-Off Sightseeing buses travel around Vancouver, stopping at points of interest. Tourist passengers are able to “hop on” and “hop off” when they like, visit an attraction, and then hop back on the bus when it comes around again.

Tickets are good for 24 hours and start at around $60 for adults around $30 for children (ages 3-12). There used to be special rates for seniors, students and families too, but that has not been the case for a few years.

Types of Tours

As of July 2024, the Hop-On, Hop-Off bus company offers their Classic Route and several separate guided tours.

( Note : Rates and other details listed below are subject to change.)

Classic Route Pass

The Classic Pass costs about $65 for adults on Fridays to Mondays, and about $60 on Tuesdays to Thursdays (plus taxes and fees). Children cost around $35. If you buy tickets a week in advance there’s a small discount!

The bus route begins at Canada Place and ends in Gastown , looping back around to the Waterfront area. The bus hits all the biggest stops in and around downtown as well as places like Stanley Park  and Granville Island .

As of the summer of 2024, the buses run between 8:45 am and 5:15 am. During the winter the hours are about 9:20 am to 3:15 pm. There are 11 stops around town and a full loop usually takes about one hour.

Other Routes

In addition to the Classic Pass described above, there are a few guided tours available as well. They include trips to popular attractions in other regions surrounding Vancouver. For example, tours include rides to Grouse Mountain and Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver, plus longer day trips to Victoria, Whistler and more.

To learn about the different guided tours, see our article about Westcoast Sightseeing .

LOOKING FOR A WALKING TOUR?

If you’re looking for an exceptional company that offers reasonably-priced walking tours around downtown Vancouver see our article about Forbidden Vancouver . We love these guys!

How the Hop-On Bus Works

Tickets are valid for 24 hours and the timing starts as soon as you “hop on” the bus initially. Buses travel a fixed route and go by every 20 minutes or so in the busy season.

Bus tickets can be purchased at various locations including online at Westcoast Sightseeing , at a kiosk outside  Canada Place and at the concierge of many hotels.

Informational commentary is provided in English, French, Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish, German and Korean.

Where does the Tour Bus Go?

Vancouver’s Hop-On Hop-Off tour buses go all over town and through many of the city’s most interesting districts including Granville Island , English Bay , Stanley Park , Coal Harbour , Chinatown and Gastown .

The buses go along several of Vancouver’s most interesting streets including Water Street, Robson ,  Granville and Beach Avenue. Other popular attractions at or near stops include Canada Place ,  FlyOver Canada , the Vancouver Lookout ,  Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden , the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Vancouver Aquarium .

The regular Hop-On Hop-Off  bus fare does not include admission into any of the above attractions, but it does include interesting commentary along the way.

Click Bus Route to see exactly where the  Hop-On Hop-Off  buses go.

Why Use Vancouver’s Hop-On Bus

Using the  Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing bus to get around and explore Vancouver has a few advantages. One advantage is that it’s convenient – you don’t have to worry about parking, traffic or figuring out the regular transit bus schedules.

The buses also go to all the places that are popular to visit within the Vancouver downtown core. Also, while you’re getting from one place to the next you can be entertained and educated about Vancouver with the tour commentary.

Vancouver’s Bus Tour Alternatives

There is more than one way to get around Vancouver. Hop-On, Hop-Off Sightseeing is a great option, but there is also  Public Transit .

If you are on a budget and don’t mind missing out on the commentary, an alternative option is to buy a transit day pass and rely on public transit to get around.

The cost for a day pass is $11.25 for adults and $8.85 for a concession pass.

Other Information

See the official Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing website for more information about Vancouver’s main in-town tour bus company.

Click Westcoast Sightseeing for details about bus tours to Vancouver’s North Shore , Whistler and Victoria .

Other articles that may be of interest include the following:

• Festivals & Events Calendar
• Vancouver’s Top 2 Dozen Attractions
• Vancouver’s Top 100 Places
• Vancouver Sightseeing Tours

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Assessing financing challenges for implementing the large-scale electric bus program in india.

This working paper aims to capture, through focused consultations with stakeholders and a secondary literature review, the challenges in raising finances for public e-bus projects. We conducted discussions with multiple stakeholders (roundtable and one-on-one interactions) involved in the e-bus procurement process.

Broadly, stakeholders are classified into primary, secondary, and tertiary stakeholders: * Primary stakeholders include e-bus original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and their subsidiaries, traditional bus operators, and new e-bus operators. They are responsible for raising investment for projects. * Secondary stakeholders include financiers, non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), and other commercial banks supporting bus financing. They are the enablers, providing the capital necessary to procure and deploy e-buses. * Tertiary stakeholders are officials from PTAs that currently operate e-buses or plan to augment their e-bus fleets. Their role in arranging the initial finance is limited, but they are responsible for paying the per-kilometer monthly fee throughout the contract.

These interactions aimed to provide insights into two key questions: * What are the current constraints in financing e-bus projects for private operators under the existing model? * What measures need to be taken to facilitate more favorable financing terms?

The obtained responses helped identify sectoral challenges related to manufacturing capacity scale-up, contract management, bankability, access to financing, financing rates, and loan tenure.

We conducted an extensive literature review to understand how the highway and solar power generation sectors in India evolved and the policy incentives that mobilized private investment in PPP projects. We assessed in depth the hybrid annuity model in the highway sector and the Solar Energy Corporation of India model in the solar power sector because of their relevance to e-bus projects. E-bus projects can leverage learnings from models addressing funding gaps in highway construction (ADB 2022) and mitigating payment risks from loss-making distribution companies (Sharma 2019). These findings will help policymakers assess the challenges involved in attracting large-scale private investment in a sector with financially weak public agencies and facilitate private financing for PTAs to enable them to transition to electric fleets.

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Publication Topics:  Energy Tags:  Electric Mobility Geography:  India Pages:  28

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Where is Gypsum headed? Bus tour gives residents a look what’s going on around town

From water to homes to the airport, tour shows off projects big and small.

News News | Sep 13, 2024

Scott Miller   

[email protected]

Gypsum town officials hosted a pair of Sept. 11 State of the Town bus tours. The tours were booked full enough to warrant bigger buses from Core Transit.

Before the morning tour, resident Hector Gonzalez said he was interested in finding out “what direction we’re heading in as a town.”

Fellow resident Kathy Ochs said she came out to learn more about the town than just her Cotton Ranch neighborhood. Ochs’ husband, Darrel, said he was interested to learn more about some of the construction projects around town.

Kathy Ochs lauded the tour approach, calling it a “novel” way to show residents some of the things going on around town.

With a full bus, here are a handful of takeaways from the morning-long tour.

Support Local Journalism

Gypsum’s drinking water is pretty special.

The lion’s share of the town’s drinking water comes from the Moser Spring, several miles up Gypsum Creek. The water comes into the town’s primary water treatment plant, is filtered a bit, has a little chlorine added and that’s it.

A secondary plant, called the Norgaard plant, is used as needed.

The town a few years ago acquired LEDE Reservoir at the headwaters of Gypsum Creek. That reservoir holds a maximum of 947 acre-feet of non-potable water.

The town is also working to create another reservoir along the Eagle River for emergency water storage.

Water and sewer service is expensive

The town just last year increased tap fees for new development for the first time since the early 2000s. Water rates also recently increased for the first time since the early 2000s.

The town also recently signed off on nearly $90 million in revenue bonds to pay for a new wastewater treatment plant. The current plant, built only about 20 years ago, cost about $5 million. Since the town’s wastewater system has to be mostly self-sustaining, that cost has to be paid through much higher rates.

A strong sales tax base

The airport and Costco are really, really helpful. We know that visitors contribute a large share of the sales tax revenue to Avon and Vail. But Gypsum Town Manager Jeremy Rietmann told tour participants that roughly 40% of the town’s sales tax revenue comes from out-of-town residents.

The Tower Center project is a big one

That project, located between existing neighborhoods on the east end of town along U.S. Highway 6 and the entrance to the Colorado National Guard’s High Altitude Aviation Training Site, is still in the town’s approval process. As proposed, the project will include:

• 47 single-family lots
• 80 townhome units
• • 324 apartments
• Mixed-used and commercial areas including 48 residential units with 26,000 square feet of commercial space and up to 100,000 square feet of retail and commercial space, including a possible location for a new post office

Rietmann said the new post office could drive customer traffic for the other commercial space.

The plan also includes a proposal for a 2.1-acre park.

Will we ever see an airport interchange?

There’s currently right-of-way for an Interstate 70 interchange to serve the airport, and a “shovel-ready” plan was drawn up in the first decade of this century. These days, there’s a greater need for interstate access between Eagle and Gypsum. The problem then, and now, is money. Finding more than $100 million will be tough.

Not everyone loves the food trucks

One participant called the trucks at the intersection of U.S. Highway 6 and Valley Road an “eyesore.” Reitmann noted that the trucks sit on private property, and pay business license fees and sales taxes. The trucks may also provide entrepreneurs an opportunity to get a foothold in town without the overhead costs of paying building rent.

When that intersection is used in the near future for a roundabout, Rietmann said it’s possible that at least some of those trucks will move to a town-owned site near the Interstate 70 interchange.

As the bus returned to Gypsum Town Hall, Kathy Ochs said “I can’t believe all that’s going on in Gypsum — it’s a very progressive town.”

Gonzalez said he’d also been impressed with the tour. “I was actually surprised to see the rapid development in Gypsum. It’s very impressive.”

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