Electric powertrain supplier Equipmake and Spanish coachbuilder Beulas have launched the Jewel E bus boasting a range of up to 250 mi (402 km)—claimed to be the longest for any electric double-decker in the world. The British-built electric powertrain was designed and developed at Equipmake’s facility in Norfolk, UK, with the body produced by Beulas in Girona, Spain.

The duo says that the cost-effective and highly efficient bus will help to reduce local emissions in urban environments, improve air quality, and reduce running costs for operators—no matter the city, from London to Las Vegas. It will also help meet ever-increasing demand, with the global electric bus market expected to accelerate from 300,000 vehicles to 1 million per year by 2030, according to a report by Arthur D. Little.

“Improving urban air quality is a global problem,” said Ian Foley, Managing Director, Equipmake. “At the same time, operators want vehicles that are cost-effective and highly efficient, while governments and local bodies need bus manufacturers to bring advanced technology to market quickly. Equipmake has taken all of this into account and the result is our innovative new EV double-decker, Jewel E.”

Set to be manufactured in 2022 at an all-new facility in Norfolk, Jewel E will not only bring new jobs to the area but play a key role in helping UK Government achieve its target of introducing at least 4000 more British-built zero-emission buses into the UK market by 2024 through its Bus Back Better national strategy.

In London, buses on the capital city’s streets cover over 475 million km (295 million mi) a year, according to Transport for London, forming an integral part of the transport network. Jewel E is the first EV bus to meet the latest Transport for London bus safety standard specifications and requirements for 2024, including enhanced safety features for the public, drivers, and passengers. The bus is suitable for operation in both London and the surrounding UK provinces.

Under the skin lies Equipmake’s Zero Emission Drivetrain (ZED), which is engineered to be a modular and scalable advanced propulsion technology capable of supporting different bus sizes. The technology is already being used in single-decker form on the streets of Buenos Aires, Argentina, as part of an Equipmake partnership with Agrale.

Equipmake’s small team of engineers is led by Foley, an engineer who has also worked in fast-paced global motorsport series such as Le Mans to F1. Capable of quickly taking a project from initial specifications through modeling, simulation, design, prototyping, and testing, the company can produce high-performance electric motors, inverters, and power electronic systems—to complete EV drivetrains. It has contributed to a range of products including Ariel’s upcoming HIPERCAR high-performance range-extended electric sports car and the Watt Electric Vehicle Company (WEVC) PACES platform Futurride covered in August.

The company also operates across the marine, off-highway, emergency vehicle, and aerospace sectors.

Packaged according to specific applications to optimize space for battery/kWh needs, the ZED integrated into the Jewel E chassis uses Equipmake’s HTM 3500 motor, which combines high torque with low motor speeds. It is fitted directly onto the propshaft, negating the need for a separate gearbox. It produces maximum torque of 3500 N·m (2580 lb·ft) at just 1000 rpm and offers a maximum power of 400 kW.

The system is driven by a Semikron SKAI inverter with energy stored in a variety of customer-specified lithium-ion battery pack options. At up to 543 kW·h, it is said to be the largest battery of any single-axle double-decker electric bus in the world, with the maximum range of up to 250 mi enabling “more than enough” daily operating range.

The Jewel E’s efficiency is made possible by what is claimed to be one of the most efficient thermal-management systems on the market, which keeps the motor, inverter, and battery at optimum operating temperature. It features a water-glycol cooling circuit augmented by the capture of thermal energy to heat the interior in cold conditions.

When the battery is depleted, it can be recharged at the depot overnight using a CSS DC charging point.

Equipmake’s “Zero Emission Drivetrain is state-of-the-art, offering exceptional efficiency yet is cost-effective too,” said Dolors Beulas, Managing Director, Beulas. “Beulas is a leader in passenger transportation in Europe, and with Jewel E, we are further consolidating our position, launching a cutting edge zero-emission bus that has huge potential to improve urban air quality.”

Testing of the Jewel E begins in Q4 2021, with in-service trials expected to take place in Q1 2022. Manufacture and sales of Jewel E will begin in 2022.