The first Beulas Jewel E (with Equipmake drivetrain) to be in trial operation in London next year

London will witness the debut in operation of the Beulas Jewel E double decker electric bus in early 2022. The bus is equipped with Equipmake’s Zero Emission Drivetrain (ZED), following a partnership announced in September. The first bus will be in in-service trial.

Beulas Jewel E electric bus for London

With modular battery pack options of up to 543kWh, the Beulas Jewel E boasts the largest battery capacity of any two-axle double decker electric bus, the manufacturer claims. Jewel E is one of the first EV buses to meet Transport for London’s (TfL) 2024 bus safety standard requirements.

Set to be built at a new manufacturing plant in Norfolk (with vehicle body is produced by Beulas in Girona, Spain), the new electric double decker will play a crucial role in UK Government’s commitment to rapidly introduce more zero emission buses as part of its Bus Back Better strategy, Equipmake says. The company is behind the bus’ powertrain. The vehicle chassis has been specifically designed for the Equipmake Zero Emission Drivetrain (ZED) by Agrale in Buenos Aires, Argentina, a leading truck and bus chassis manufacturer established in 1962.

The first trial for Beulas electric double decker bus

Now, Equipmake’s technology and the Jewel E are set to be proven with in-service trials in one of the most demanding bus driving environments in the world, London, where buses cover around 300 million miles a year. The Jewel E is one of the first EV bus to meet the latest Transport for London (TfL) bus safety standard specifications and requirements for 2024, including enhanced safety features to give the public, drivers and passengers peace of mind. Equipmake’s development team has worked closely with Go-Ahead London’s Engineering Director, Richard Harrington, and his team of experts to meet the TfL’s 2024 specifications. The Jewel E is suitable for operation not only in the UK capital but also in the surrounding provinces, the manufacturer points out.

Equipmake has collaborated with a range of suppliers to integrate the most advanced technologies, guaranteeing the Jewel E’s ability to meet even the most stringent requirements. Companies including Sure24, Forman, 21st Century, and McKenna have supplied systems such as cameras, intercoms, induction loops, and destination displays.

Equipmake powertrain for Go-Ahead London

Equipmake’s fully modular and scale-able ZED has been designed from the outset to support different customer requirements and bus sizes. The technology underpins the next step in Equipmake’s strategic plan to grow its lineup of advanced electric powertrains and vehicles.

Featuring a modular lithium-ion battery design, customers can choose from three options: 325kWh, 434kWh and 543kWh. The latter is the most powerful battery solution of any two-axle double decker electric bus in the world. It delivers a maximum range of up to 300 miles, ensuring more than sufficient daily operating mileage.

Another key component of the Jewel E ZED chassis is Equipmake’s HTM 3500 electric motor. Seamlessly integrated into the prop shaft without the need for a separate transmission, the motor is precisely engineered to meet the demanding requirements of a fully laden double decker bus by producing an exceptional 3,500 Nm torque at an effortlessly low motor speed of just 1,000rpm and delivering 400kW maximum power. A Semikron SKAI inverter converts DC charge from the battery to AC charge to drive the HTM 3500 electric motor.

Equipmake’s thermal management system maintains all three of the ZED’s key components, the battery pack, motor and inverter, at an optimum operating temperature. Featuring an advanced water-glycol cooling circuit, the system also provides the benefit of heating the interior 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.

Beulas with Equipmake

Ian Foley, Managing Director, Equipmake, said: “Our Jewel E double decker bus integrates the latest electric powertrain technologies to result in a highly efficient and cost-effective, purpose-built commercial vehicle, one of the first that meets the increasingly strict Transport for London requirements for buses operating across the capital. I am delighted to announce our partnership with Go-Ahead. In-service trials with London’s largest bus operator will allow us to continue the vehicle’s development during real-world usage cycles on public roads, a vital next step in perfecting the double decker electric bus before it enters full service.”

Richard Harrington, Engineering Director, Go-Ahead London, said: “At Go-Ahead London, we believe passionately that converting our fleet from internal combustion power to electric energy will deliver a long-term solution to cut emissions and help provide a clean air environment. To date, we have already saved 700 tonnes of CO2 with our existing electric fleet and opened Europe’s first all-electric bus garage, so we have the necessary infrastructure already in place to seamlessly integrate the Jewel E test-programme into our services. What makes the Jewel E even more exciting is that it is one of the first EV bus to meet the new Transport for London (TfL) bus safety standard specifications and requirements for 2024, which is a key advantage for our passengers and drivers and the public.”