Equipmake
{{Short description|British electric motor and bus manufacturer}}
{{use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{use British English|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Equipmake
| logo =
| logo_caption =
| logo_upright =
| logo_alt =
| type =
| industry = Manufacturing
| founded = {{Start date and age|1997}}
| founder = Ian Foley
| hq_location_city = Snetterton
| hq_location_country = Norfolk, England
| key_people =
| products = Electric motors
| owner =
| num_employees = 60
| num_employees_year =
| parent =
| website = {{URL|https://equipmake.co.uk}}
}}
Equipmake is a British manufacturer of electric motors for cars and buses based in Snetterton, Norfolk, England.
History
Equipmake was founded in 1997 by Ian Foley, who had worked in motorsports engineering with 24 Hours of Le Mans and Formula One teams Lotus Engineering, Benetton Formula and Lotus F1. The company was founded when Foley developed a paddle shift gearbox purpose-built for endurance racing, and by the 2000s, Equipmake was involved in researching electric motors and flywheels prior to Formula 1's move to hybrid powertrains in the 2014 season.{{cite web|author= |title=Founder Profile |url=https://equipmake.co.uk/about-us/founder-profile/ |publisher=Equipmake |access-date=13 March 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.driving.co.uk/news/interview/f1-electric-cars-meet-ian-foley-founder-equipmake/ |title=From F1 to electric cars: meet Ian Foley, founder of Equipmake|date=8 May 2019|website=Sunday Times Driving|access-date=13 March 2023}}
Equipmake engineered a hybrid flywheel with Williams Racing in 2009, which saw success in both F1 and Le Mans endurance racing under Williams Hybrid Power.{{cite news|url=https://www.racecar-engineering.com/articles/f1/williams-f1-kers-explained/ |title=Williams F1 KERS explained |work=Racecar Engineering |accessdate=13 March 2023}} The flywheel also found applications for hybrid buses and commercial vehicles. Foley left Williams in 2014 to concentrate on Equipmake, with the company developing a new series of electric motors shortly afterwards.{{cite news |last1=Cropley |first1=Steve |title=How Equipmake is revolutionising electric car propulsion |url=https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/how-equipmake-revolutionising-electric-car-propulsion |access-date=27 June 2024 |work=Autocar |date=10 June 2018}}
The company experienced considerable growth from 2017 onwards as a result of commercial vehicle operators beginning to operate new and converted battery electric vehicles. Staff numbers grew from 15 employees to 52 between 2017 and 2019 as a result of growing orders. Originally based in the village of Hethel, Equipmake moved to its present headquarters in Snetterton in December 2019, with the opening attended by then-Secretary of State for International Trade (and local MP) Liz Truss. This factory was designed as part of Equipmake's development of a battery-electric bus chassis, receiving £7.5 million of funding from the Advanced Propulsion Centre nonprofit.{{cite magazine|date=10 December 2019 |title=Equipmake opens new bus factory in Snetterton |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/equipmake-opens-new-bus-factory-in-snetterton/ |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |access-date=27 June 2024}}
Products
=Ariel HiPerCAR=
{{main|Ariel Motor Company#HIPERCAR}}
Sports car manufacturer Ariel began collaborating with Equipmake in 2014 to develop the Ariel HiPerCAR (High Performance Carbon Reduction), which was unveiled at the Millbrook Proving Ground in September 2017. Built on an aluminium monocoque chassis and weighing around {{convert|1600|kg}}, Equipmake's involvement in the HiPerCAR project was the development of a set of four electric motors that produced a combined {{convert|1200|bhp}}, powered by a 42 kWh liquid-cooled battery. As a result, the flagship four-wheel drive HiPerCAR could run at a range of {{convert|100-120|mi}} without range extensions, and topped out at a restricted top speed of {{convert|160|mph}}, though it was capable of accelerating from {{convert|0-100|mph}} in 3.8 seconds. A slightly slower two-wheel drive option was also announced at the show.{{cite news |last1=Cropley |first1=Steve |title=Ariel unveils world-beating supercar with 1180bhp at LCV event |url=https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/ariel-unveils-world-beating-supercar-1180bhp-lcv-event |access-date=27 June 2024 |work=Autocar |date=6 September 2017}} An updated HiPerCAR with a body assembled with 3D-printed panelwork was revealed by Ariel and Equipmake in 2022, planned to enter mainstream production between late 2024 and early 2025 under a new model name.{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=James |title=Ariel Hipercar prototype 2023 review |url=https://www.evo.co.uk/ariel/206120/ariel-hipercar-prototype-2023-review |access-date=27 June 2024 |work=Evo |date=9 September 2023}}
=Electric bus conversions=
File:Equipmake electrified New Routemaster.jpg New Routemaster double-decker bus with a Equipmake battery-electric drivetrain at the 2022 Euro Bus Expo]]
Equipmake entered into a contract with York public bus operator First York to repower its fleet of 12 Optare Versa single-deck battery electric buses, which were originally built between 2014 and 2015 and were withdrawn due to having life-expired batteries. The repowers, which Equipmake claimed gave the buses a {{convert|150|mi}} range, commenced in 2022.{{cite news|url=https://www.route-one.net/news/equipmake-to-repower-12-first-york-optare-versa-evs/ |title=Equipmake to repower 12 First York Optare Versa EVs |work=routeone |date=3 October 2022 |access-date=13 March 2023}} The first repowered Versa entered service with First York in March 2023,{{cite news|url=https://www.route-one.net/news/first-york-puts-equipmake-electric-repower-into-service/ |title=First York puts Equipmake electric repower into service |work=routeone |date=13 March 2023 |access-date=13 March 2023}} with the contract officially completed by April 2024.{{cite news |last=Westerheide |first=Carla |url=https://www.electrive.com/2024/04/03/uk-equipmake-delivers-12-retrofitted-buses-to-york/ |title=Equipmake delivers 12 retrofitted buses to York |date=3 April 2024 |work=electrive |access-date=27 June 2024}}
A hybrid-electric New Routemaster was repowered with Equipmake's Zero Emission Drive, with a 400kWh battery giving the bus a {{convert|150|mi}} range. The bus re-entered service at Metroline's Holloway garage in November 2022 on a six-month evaluation period.{{cite news|url=https://www.route-one.net/news/new-routemaster-battery-electric-repower-makes-debut/ |title=New Routemaster battery-electric repower makes debut |work=routeone |date=2 November 2022 |access-date=12 May 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.transportengineer.org.uk/transport-engineer-news/equipmake-repowers-new-routemaster/248534/ |title=Equipmake repowers New Routemaster |date=4 November 2022 |website=Transport Engineer |access-date=12 May 2023}}
In March 2023, Equipmake announced it had entered into a partnership with coach operator Westway Coaches to repower some of its existing diesel coach fleet. A Zero Emission Drive was first installed in a Westway Van Hool T917, allowing for a range of {{convert|220|mi}} using a 545kWh battery.{{cite magazine|date=3 March 2023 |title=Equipmake expands repower offering to coach sector with Westway deal |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/equipmake-expands-repower-offering-to-coach-sector-with-westway-deal/ |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |access-date=12 May 2023}}{{cite magazine|last=Peat|first=Chris |url=https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/equipmake-showcasing-westways-repowered-van-hool-at-itt-hub/ |title=Equipmake showcasing Westway's repowered Van Hool at ITT Hub |magazine=Bus & Coach Buyer |date=10 May 2023 |access-date=12 May 2023}} Elsewhere, Big Bus Tours' London operations partnered with Equipmake to convert 20 of its Ankai diesel open-top buses to battery electric, with the first ten converted buses launched into service in June 2024,{{cite magazine|date=23 January 2024 |title=Big Bus repower contract doubled for Equipmake |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/big-bus-repower-contract-doubled-for-equipmake/ |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |access-date=27 June 2024}}{{cite news |last=Halford |first=Paul |url=https://www.route-one.net/news/zenobe-partners-with-big-bus-tours-to-launch-repowered-fleet/ |title=Zenobe partners with Big Bus Tours to launch repowered fleet |work=routeone |date=21 June 2024 |access-date=27 June 2024}} while that same year, fellow London open-top bus operator Golden Tours also contracted Equipmake to perform battery electric conversions on its Wright Gemini 3 and MCV EvoSeti-bodied Volvo B5TL sightseeing buses.{{cite magazine|last=Williams |first=Mark |url=https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/49140-2/ |title=Golden Tours to repower ten more open-toppers |magazine=Bus & Coach Buyer |date=3 June 2024 |access-date=27 June 2024}}
Equipmake began offering conversions for closed-top double-decker buses with an agreement in August 2023 to convert eight double-deckers from the Newport Bus fleet - four Alexander Dennis Enviro400s and three Volvo B5LH hybrids - to battery electric drive.{{cite news |title=Newport Transport agrees deal to convert buses to fully electric vehicles |url=https://nation.cymru/news/newport-transport-agrees-deal-to-convert-buses-to-fully-electric-vehicles/ |access-date=27 June 2024 |work=Nation.Cymru |date=4 August 2023}} In June 2024, Equipmake announced it would offer electric conversions for the integral Wright StreetDeck, replacing the diesel driveline in the space of there weeks with 436 kWh batteries to provide a range of {{convert|200|mi}}, directly competing for conversion orders with the recently-launched NewPower subsidiary by the StreetDeck's manufacturer Wrightbus.{{cite news |last=Halford |first=Paul |url=https://www.route-one.net/news/equipmake-enters-wrightbus-streetdeck-battery-electric-repower/ |title=Equipmake enters Wrightbus StreetDeck battery-electric repower |work=routeone |date=27 June 2024 |access-date=27 June 2024}}
=Integral electric buses=
Equipmake has also developed its own integral range of electric buses. A double-decker bus named the Equipmake Jewel E, bodied by Spanish body manufacturer Beulas on a Brazilian-Argentine Agrale chassis and built to Transport for London specification, was unveiled by Equipmake in 2021, powered by three optioned modular battery packs capable of a 543kWh charge capacity that give the bus a {{convert|300|mi}} maximum range. The Jewel E was due to enter demonstration service with Go-Ahead London in early 2022.{{cite news|url=https://evpowered.co.uk/news/ian-foley-the-man-behind-the-electric-double-decker-bus/ |title=Ian Foley: The man behind the electric double-decker bus |work=EV Powered |date=19 November 2021 |access-date=13 March 2023}}{{cite news|last=Deakin|first=Tim|url=https://www.route-one.net/news/go-ahead-london-to-trial-battery-electric-equipmake-jewel-e/ |title=Go-Ahead London to trial battery-electric Equipmake Jewel E |work=routeone |date=11 November 2021 |access-date=6 April 2023}}
Equipmake and Agrale later developed the Agrale MT17.0 LEe, a {{cvt|12|m}} low-cost battery electric single-deck bus built with a battery range of {{cvt|150|mi}} and capable of carrying 70 passengers, for the South American market. After road trials and durability tests in the United Kingdom in 2021, a prototype model was shipped to Argentina in July 2022 and entered service in Buenos Aires on trial with {{interlanguage link|Doscientos Ocho Transporte Automotor S. A.|es}} (DOTA) in October 2022.{{cite magazine|date=25 October 2022 |title=Agrale and Equipmake launch new bus in Buenos Aires |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/agrale-and-equipmake-launch-new-bus-in-buenos-aires/ |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |access-date=6 April 2023}}{{cite magazine|last=Peat|first=Chris |url=https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/equipmake-bus-leaves-for-argentina/ |title=Equipmake bus leaves for Argentina |magazine=Bus & Coach Buyer |date=13 July 2022 |access-date=6 April 2023}} The first production MT17.0 LEe, its body domestically built in Argentina by Todo Bus, later entered service with DOTA in August 2024, with further orders set to follow.{{cite news|url=https://www.route-one.net/news/equipmake-powers-first-argentina-built-battery-electric-bus/ |title=Equipmake powers first Argentina-built battery-electric bus |work=routeone |date=23 August 2024 |access-date=23 August 2024}}
References
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