Wright Electrocity

The Wright Electrocity was a type of hybrid electric bus built by Wrightbus between 2002 and 2013. The Electrocity was based on DAF/VDL SB120 chassis for most of these buses, except for a single Dennis Dart SLF prototype.

Wright Electrocity
Travel London Wright Electrocity at North Greenwich bus station in May 2008
Overview
ManufacturerWrightbus
Production2002 - 2013
AssemblyBallymena, Northern Ireland
Body and chassis
Doors2
Floor typeLow floor
ChassisDennis Dart SLF
DAF/VDL SB120
Powertrain
EngineVauxhall (1st 6)
Cummins ISBe
Dimensions
Length10.9 metres
Chronology
SuccessorWright StreetAir

History

Two Electrocity prototypes were initially built in 2002; one based on DAF SB120 chassis, the other based on a Dennis Dart SLF chassis.[1] The bodywork design was similar to the existing Wright Cadet and Crusader, which were also built on DAF SB120 and Dennis Dart SLF chassis respectively, with the addition of battery pods on the roof of the Electrocity being the main difference. The Electrocity was the first bus of its kind to be built, and the prototypes competed mainly with the TransBus Enviro200H.

The Electrocity design was facelifted in 2005 to match the updated Cadet design, with the main noticeable change being rounded front headlights. Following the collapse of TransBus International in 2004 and subsequent cancellation of the Enviro200H programme, in February 2006 London Central placed six Electrocitys based on VDL SB120 chassis into service on route 360.[2][3][4][5]

Originally equipped with lead-acid batteries and 1.9 litre Vauxhall engines, in 2011 all were rebuilt by Wrightbus with lithium-ion batteries and 4.5 litre Cummins ISBe engines. The hybrid management system was converted from Enova to Siemens.[6][7] Externally they received larger white pods on the rear roofs to house the batteries.

All subsequent Electrocitys were built on VDL SB120 chassis. In 2007, another five were built for Travel London for use on route 129.[8][9] A single Electrocity was built for London Central in 2008, followed by a batch of six in 2011, to allow for a full conversion of route 360.[6]

These were the last buses to be built to the same Wrightbus design philosophy as that introduced with the Wright Renown in 1997, fourteen years previously; the similarity in the design of the Renown and the Electrocity, at least on the surface with the body design, is evident.

The Electrocity was superseded by the Wright StreetAir in 2016.[10]

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References
  1. http://www.ecotravel.org.uk/documents/LCA_of_alternative_fuels/Chapter5.pdf (page 3)
  2. First Electrocity order for Wrightbus Bus & Coach Professional 18 March 2005
  3. Cleaner , greener buses for route 360 London SE1 7 February 2006
  4. Hybrids enter service in London Bus & Coach Professional 8 February 2006
  5. The Electrocity makes another first for the Wright Wrightbus 10 February 2006
  6. Revised Wrightbus hybrids ready to roll Bus & Coach Professional 23 August 2011
  7. "New phase for Wright Hybrids" Coach & Bus Week issue 1000 24 August 2011 page 12
  8. Focus Transport: Hybrids in London Archived 27 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  9. New hybrid buses unveiled for London fleet Transport for London 2 December 2008
  10. Wrightbus' new range of electric buses revealed Route One 5 August 2016

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