Game-Changer: Wrightbus unveils first repowered zero-emission truck in landmark UK move

Eleven months in development – Wrightbus‘ first zero-emission truck conversion – a 19-tonne twin-axle DAF

World-leading bus manufacturer Wrightbus has revealed its first repowered truck as part of ambitious plans to expand its presence in the zero-emission transport sector.

The Ballymena-based firm, which builds 1,000 buses a year at its Northern Ireland headquarters, has already established itself as a pioneer in clean transport.

Now, with its newly launched repowering division NewPower in Bicester, Oxfordshire – the UK’s largest facility of its kind – Wrightbus is set to transform the haulage industry.

The company’s engineers have successfully converted a 19-tonne twin-axle DAF truck, replacing its diesel engine with a state-of-the-art electric powertrain. The project, 11 months in development, is being hailed as a breakthrough that will create 160 new jobs in the UK over the next two years.

Wrightbus Chief Executive Jean-Marc Gales

Chief Executive Jean-Marc Gales said the project was central to efforts to decarbonise the truck sector.

“Buses have led the way in decarbonisation for the last two or three years: year-to-date sales of new buses in the UK are 75% zero-emission, but trucks are lagging way behind, with less than 1 per cent of the sector switching to EV,” he explained.

“We believe that repowering is the simplest and most cost-effective way to ignite the market and our incredible Wrightbus engineers have more experience than anyone else in replacing internal combustion engines with electric powertrains.”

Affordable alternative to new EV trucks

With new zero-emission trucks often prohibitively expensive, Wrightbus says its repowered model comes in at less than half the cost of a brand-new EV.

The conversion process, which can be completed in as little as four weeks, involves stripping out the diesel engine and gearbox and fitting a 282kWh battery pack capable of delivering a range of up to 290km.

The 19-tonne model was chosen for its similarity to urban buses, sharing a comparable duty cycle of fixed routes and back-to-base operations. Wrightbus’s proven battery-electric bus (BEV) powertrain has been adapted with over 90% commonality of parts, offering efficiency and reliability.

UK-wide support and global expansion

(L-R) James Bishop, Programme Director; Jean-Marc Gales, CEO; Marcel De Rycker, MD, Rightech; Paul Thomas, CTO.

All future truck conversions will take place at the NewPower site in Bicester, with support from a dedicated fleet of mobile service engineers. Wrightbus has also formed a strategic partnership with SVS, which already manages the firm’s zero-emission truck operations under the Rightech banner.

Mr Gales added:

“Operators and fleet managers can have complete confidence that we can provide a 360-degree solution; helping bus customers adapt from diesel fleets to zero-emission fleets seamlessly, maintaining them with 98.6% uptime, and with each bus covering an average of 50,000 miles per annum.”

Already employing more than 2,300 people worldwide, Wrightbus operates service centres in Ballymena, Coventry, Bicester, Brühl (Germany) and Selangor (Malaysia). Its global expansion aims to drive the shift towards cleaner, more efficient public and commercial transport.

The company’s track record includes producing the world’s first hydrogen double-decker bus and the iconic London Routemaster. Wrightbus also boasts the most efficient buses in its EV and hydrogen ranges.