Wright GB Kite
{{short description|Zero emissions single-decker bus range}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox UK Bus
| background =
| name = Wright GB Kite
| image = First Leeds Electric 63580 - ML73 EAF.jpg
| caption = First Leeds Wright GB Kite Electroliner on The Headrow, Leeds, in February 2024
| interiorimage =
| interiorcaption =
| manufacturer = Wrightbus
| assembly = Ballymena, Northern Ireland
| production = 2022–present
| predecessor = Wright Eclipse 3
Wright StreetAir
| capacity = 90 maximum
| operator =
| length = {{convert|10.9|m|ft}}, {{convert|11.6|m|ft}}, {{convert|12.5|m|ft}}
| width = {{convert|2.5|m|ft}}
| height = {{convert|3.3|m|ft}}
| floortype = Low floor
| doors = 1 or 2
| weight =
| chassis = Integral
| battery = {{ubl|Electroliner BEV|340/454/567 kW lithium iron phosphate}}{{ubl|Hydroliner FCEV|70/100 kW Ballard FCmove fuel cell
30/45 kW reserve}}
| range = {{ubl|Electroliner BEV|{{convert|250|mi|km}}{{cite web |title=GB Kite Electroliner BEV |url=https://wrightbus.com/en-gb/gb-kite-electroliner-bev |website=Wrightbus |access-date=2 November 2021}}}}{{ubl|Hydroliner FCEV|{{convert|640|mi|km}}{{cite web |title=GB Kite Hydroliner FCEV |url=https://wrightbus.com/en-gb/gb-kite-hydroliner-fcev |website=Wrightbus |access-date=2 November 2021}}}}
| transmission =
| options =
| related = Wright GB Hawk
Wright StreetDeck
| class = Electric bus
Fuel cell bus
}}
The Wright GB Kite is a range of full-size zero-emission single-deck buses manufactured by Wrightbus since 2022. Similar in body style to the diesel powered Wright GB Hawk, the GB Kite is an integral design that can be built as a battery electric vehicle, the Electroliner BEV, and as a fuel cell electric vehicle, the Hydroliner FCEV.
The GB Kite range was launched in September 2021, following the launch of the double-deck Wright StreetDeck Electroliner and Hydroliner range earlier in the year.{{cite web |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/wrightbus-to-launch-electric-and-hydrogen-powered-gb-kite/ |title=Wrightbus to launch electric and hydrogen powered GB Kite |author= |date=7 September 2021 |website=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |access-date=2 November 2021}} The Electroliner BEV has a maximum range of {{convert|250|mi|km}} with the top option of a 567kwh battery, charged through conventional DC charging or pantograph charging. The Hydroliner FCEV has a maximum range of {{convert|640|mi|km}}, powered with either a 70 or 100kwh fuel cell system produced by Ballard Power Systems in combination with a {{convert|35|kg|lb|abbr=on}} or {{convert|50|kg|lb|abbr=on}} hydrogen tank.{{cite web |url=https://www.electrive.com/2021/09/23/wrightbus-presents-electric-fuel-cell-single-decker-buses/ |title=Wrightbus presents electric & fuel cell single-decker buses |author= |date=23 September 2021 |website=electrive |access-date=2 November 2021}} Regular production of both GB Kite variants was fully underway by December 2022.{{cite web|last=May |first=Tiana |url=https://bus-news.com/wrightbus-advances-production-of-gb-kite-electroliner/ |title=Wrightbus Advances Production of GB Kite Electroliner |work=Bus-News |date=9 December 2022 |accessdate=15 December 2022}}
Operators
=Hydroliner FCEV=
File:Metrobus 6413 Route 435 (54360185410) (cropped).jpg Wright GB Kite Hydroliner FCEV in Crawley in March 2025]]
The first orders for GB Kites was placed in November 2021, with Metrobus ordering 20 Hydroliner FCEV vehicles for use on the Fastway network.{{Cite press release|title=Go-Ahead buys its first zero emission hydrogen buses|url=https://newsroom.go-ahead.com/news/go-ahead-buys-its-first-zero-emission-hydrogen-buses|date=4 November 2021|access-date=4 November 2021 |website=Go-Ahead News|language=en-GB}}{{Cite news|author= |date=4 November 2021 |title=20 Wrightbus hydrogen single-deckers for Metrobus Fastway|url=https://www.route-one.net/news/20-wrightbus-hydrogen-single-deckers-for-metrobus-fastway/|access-date=4 November 2021 |work=routeone|language=en-GB}} The first buses from this order, also being the first production Hydroliner FCEVs, began entering service with Metrobus on the Fastway network in April 2023, with the order for 20 completed later in June.{{cite news|last=Gardner |first=Andrew |url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/23444862.crawley-metrobus-begins-testing-wright-hydroliner-fleet/ |title=Crawley Metrobus begins testing of Wright Hydroliner fleet |work=The Argus |location=Brighton |date=11 April 2023 |access-date=16 May 2023}}{{Cite web|author= |date=29 June 2023 |title=Go-Ahead introduces FCEV fleet in Crawley, Horley, Gatwick Airport |url=https://www.route-one.net/bus/go-ahead-introduces-fcev-fleet-in-crawley-horley-gatwick-airport/ |access-date=29 June 2023 |website=routeone}} By 2024, however, up to two thirds of the Fastway Hydroliner fleet were not being used in regular service due to the Health and Safety Executive not signing off on a liquid hydrogen fuelling system at Metrobus' Crawley depot.{{cite web |last=Williams |first=Mark |url=https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/hse-delays-fastway-hydrogen-fleet-by-two-years/ |title=HSE delays Fastway hydrogen fleet for two years |work=Bus & Coach Buyer |date=7 March 2024 |access-date=7 October 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Gardner |first1=Andrew |title=Crawley: Metrobus Fastway delayed by government red tape |url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/24173317.crawley-metrobus-fastway-delayed-government-red-tape/ |access-date=7 October 2024 |work=The Argus |date=10 March 2024 |location=Brighton}} Despite this, a further order for 23 Kite Hydroliner FCEVs is to be delivered in late 2024 for both Fastway and conventional Metrobus services in Surrey.{{cite web |last=Williams |first=Mark |url=https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/wrightbus-hcevs-form-16m-spend-by-surrey/ |title=Wrightbus HCEVs form £16m spend by Surrey |work=Bus & Coach Buyer |date=7 October 2024 |access-date=7 October 2024}}
The GB Kite Hydroliner FCEV has proven most popular in Germany, with export orders for 146 in left-hand drive configuration placed as of April 2024. A first batch of 31 Hydroliner FCEVs were delivered to Cologne municipal operator {{interlanguage link|Regionalverkehr Köln|de}} during 2024, Wrightbus' first European order since the bus builder was rescued from bankruptcy,{{cite news |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/wrightbus-completes-cologne-delivery/ |title=Wrightbus completes Cologne delivery |date=26 November 2024 |work=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |access-date=28 November 2024}} with an additional 29 due for delivery in 2025.{{cite news|last=Breslin |first=John |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/northern-ireland/wrightbus-to-supply-german-city-of-cologne-with-60-hydrogen-buses-41696266.html |work=Belfast Telegraph |title=Wrightbus to supply German city of Cologne with 60 hydrogen buses |date=27 May 2022 |access-date=27 May 2022}} Twelve were ordered by {{interlanguage link|WestVerkehr|de}} in October 2023 for service in Geilenkirchen in North Rhine-Westphalia,{{cite web |last=Peat |first=Chris |url=https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/wrightbus-secures-hydrogen-bus-order-from-germany/ |title=Wrightbus secures hydrogen bus order from Germany |work=Bus & Coach Buyer |date=20 October 2023 |access-date=21 October 2023}} followed by an order for 28 Hydroliner FCEVs by Saarbahn in February 2024 for service in Saarbrücken,{{cite web |last=Peat |first=Chris |url=https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/wrightbus-secures-28-strong-german-order/ |title=Wrightbus secures 28-strong German order |work=Bus & Coach Buyer |date=26 February 2024 |access-date=26 February 2024}}{{cite web |last=Randall |first=Chris |url=https://www.electrive.com/2024/02/26/saarbahn-orders-28-hydrogen-buses-from-wrightbus/ |title=Saarbahn orders 28 hydrogen buses from Wrightbus |date=26 February 2024 |work=electrive |access-date=26 February 2024}} and 46 for Cottbus municipal {{interlanguage link|Cottbusverkehr|de}}.{{Cite web|author= |date=25 April 2024|title=Wrightbus to supply 46 Kite Hydroliners to Cottbus in Germany |url=https://www.route-one.net/news/wrightbus-to-supply-46-kite-hydroliners-to-cottbus-in-germany/ |access-date=26 April 2024 |work=routeone}}
In May 2022, Wrightbus entered a deal to supply the Australian bodybuilder Volgren with two GB Kite Hydroliner FCEV chassis for the company to body. These two buses are scheduled to enter service with Transdev Queensland for hydrogen fuel-cell trial services in Brisbane.{{Cite web|author= |date=11 May 2022|title=Wrightbus eyes Australian export market with Volgren deal |url=https://www.route-one.net/news/wrightbus-eyes-australian-export-market-with-volgren-deal/|access-date=22 December 2022 |website=routeone}}{{cite news|last=Blackadder |first=Dessie |url=https://www.ballymenaguardian.co.uk/news/2022/05/11/gallery/australia-deal-is-major-boost-for-ballymena-wrightbus-workers-24785/ |work=Ballymena Guardian |title=Australia deal is major boost for Ballymena Wrightbus workers |date=11 May 2022 |access-date=22 December 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/transdev-goes-hydrogen-with-two-bus-volgren-wrightbus-trial/ |title=Transdev goes hydrogen with two-bus Volgren-Wrightbus trial |author= |date=30 August 2022 |website=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |access-date=22 December 2022}}
=Electroliner BEV=
File:Metroline Travel WSE2937 on route 153.jpg Wright GB Kite Electroliner BEV with facelifted front fascia in Holloway in January 2025]]
The FirstGroup ordered 173 GB Kite Electroliner BEVs in August 2022 for five of the group's subsidiaries as part of an order which also included 20 StreetDeck Electroliner BEVs. The first buses from an initial order of 68 GB Kite Electroliner BEVs began entering service with First Leicester in May 2023,{{cite web|last=Williams|first=Mark |url=https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/electroliners-enter-service-in-leicester/ |title=Electroliners enter service in Leicester |work=Bus & Coach Buyer |date=31 May 2023 |access-date=31 May 2023}} followed by deliveries of 24 GB Kite Electroliner BEVs to First York beginning in late August 2023,{{cite news |author= |date=25 August 2023 |title=Big switch-on marks major milestone for cleaner, greener transport in York |url=https://yorkmix.com/a-big-milestone-for-cleaner-greener-transport-in-york/ |work=YorkMix |access-date=26 August 2023}} 32 to First West Yorkshire's Bramley depot between January and March 2024 for service in Leeds,{{Cite web |date=5 March 2024|title=First to complete 57-bus electric rollout in Leeds by end of March |url=https://www.route-one.net/news/first-to-complete-57-bus-electric-rollout-in-leeds-by-end-of-march/ |access-date=5 March 2024|website=routeone}} and the first of 61 for First Hampshire & Dorset's Portsmouth services from March 2024.{{cite magazine |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/portsmouth-reveals-electric-fleet/ |title=Portsmouth reveals electric fleet |author= |date=19 March 2024 |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |issue=1619 |location=Peterborough |access-date=20 March 2024}} Further orders for GB Kite Electroliner BEVs have been made by First Eastern Counties for services in Norwich,{{Cite web|last=Deakin |first=Tim |date=31 August 2022|title=First Bus orders 193 Wrightbus battery-electrics |url=https://www.route-one.net/news/first-bus-orders-193-wrightbus-battery-electrics/ |access-date=31 August 2022|website=routeone}}{{Cite web|last=Deakin |first=Tim |date=2 March 2023|title=First Bus orders 117 more Wrightbus battery-electrics |url=https://www.route-one.net/news/first-bus-orders-117-more-wrightbus-battery-electrics/ |access-date=2 March 2023|website=routeone}} while 18 more are also due for delivery to First Leicester in 2024.{{Cite web|last=Halford |first=Paul |date=27 March 2023|title=LTA partnerships are crucial, says First Bus MD |url=https://www.route-one.net/bus/lta-partnerships-are-crucial-says-first-bus-md/ |access-date=27 March 2023|website=routeone |quote=The unveiling of the Wrightbus GB Kite Electroliner single-decker at First Leicester's depot last week was a significant step as 18 more were also put on order to add to the 86 already on their way.}}{{cite news |author= |date=21 March 2023 |title=Wrightbus in new deal to deliver 18 zero emission buses for Leicester |url=https://www.irishnews.com/business/2023/03/22/news/wrightbus_in_new_deal_to_deliver_18_zero_emission_buses_for_leicester-3151607/ |work=The Irish News |access-date=27 March 2023}}
28 GB Kite Electroliner BEVs were delivered for Translink's Foyle Metro operation in Derry in May 2023.{{cite magazine |author= |date=10 December 2021 |title=Further electric investment announced in Northern Ireland |url=https://www.keybuses.com/article/further-electric-investment-announced-northern-ireland |magazine=Buses |location=Stamford |publisher=Key Publishing |access-date=18 December 2021 |url-access=subscription}}{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.route-one.net/news/translink-debuts-foyle-metro-battery-electric-fleet/ |title=Translink debuts Foyle Metro battery-electric fleet |work=routeone |date=26 May 2023 |access-date=26 May 2023}} These buses began entering service in the city in August 2023 after the installation of charging infrastructure and training of staff at the Foyle Metro depot.{{cite news|last=Deeney |first=Niall |url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/first-electric-buses-derry-city-27478100 |work=Belfast Live |title=First electric buses in Derry city now on the road, say Translink |date=8 August 2023 |access-date=8 August 2023}} 21 more GB Kite Electroliner BEVs began to be delivered to Translink from May 2024, with four being delivered for the Foyle Metro operation, 14 being delivered to Ulsterbus for services in Derry, Coleraine and Craigavon,{{cite magazine |last=Welch |first=Jonathan |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/electrifying-translink/ |title=Electrifying Translink |date=4 June 2024 |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |issue=1630 |pages=16-20 |location=Peterborough |access-date=22 June 2024 |url-access=subscription}}{{cite web |last=Randall |first=Chris |url=https://www.electrive.com/2024/06/03/translink-receives-first-electric-buses-from-wrightbus-in-northern-ireland/ |title=Translink receives first electric buses from Wrightbus in Northern Ireland |date=3 June 2024 |website=electrive |access-date=8 June 2024}} and three delivered Metro in Belfast for use on an express service to George Best Belfast City Airport.{{cite magazine |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/translink-adds-electric-buses-to-airport-route/ |title=Translink adds electric buses to airport route |author= |date=15 October 2024 |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |access-date=16 October 2024}}
The Oxford Bus Company received five GB Kite Electroliner BEVs as part of a 104-vehicle order for zero-emission Wrightbus buses,{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.route-one.net/news/oxford-bus-company-to-take-104-wrightbus-electrics/ |title=Oxford Bus Company to take 104 Wrightbus electrics |work=routeone |date=31 January 2023 |access-date=31 January 2023}} while Abellio London, the first Transport for London operator to order GB Kites, ordered 12 GB Kite Electroliner BEVs for service on route E7 featuring a redesigned front end to comply with TfL's Bus Safety Standard,{{cite magazine |last1=Lidstone |first1=John G. |display-authors=etal |date=19 April 2023 |title=In Fleet News this month |issue=818 |pages= |url=https://www.keybuses.com/article/fleet-news-month-55 |magazine=Buses |location=Stamford |publisher=Key Publishing |quote=Electric single-deckers on order are 13 Switch Metrocity for route E5 and 12 Wright GB Kite Electroliners for route E7.|access-date=22 August 2023}} with the first of a further 24 delivered to Abellio's successor Transport UK London Bus from May 2024.{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.route-one.net/deliveries/transport-uk-london-bus-mobilises-e6-route-with-gb-kite-fleet/ |title=Transport UK London Bus mobilises E6 route with GB Kite fleet |work=routeone |date=29 May 2024 |access-date=29 May 2024}} Arriva London, meanwhile, announced in February 2024 that it had placed orders for 11 GB Kite Electroliner BEVs.{{Cite news|author= |date=8 February 2024|title=Arriva London orders 87 more battery-electrics from Wrightbus |url=https://www.route-one.net/news/arriva-london-orders-87-more-battery-electrics-from-wrightbus/ |work=routeone |access-date=8 February 2024}}
In October 2024, the Go-Ahead Group signed a £500 million three-year deal for Wrightbus to supply of over 1,200 electric buses to its subsidiaries; all apart from 43 of these buses will be from the Electroliner range.{{cite news |last1=Topham |first1=Gwyn |title=Go-Ahead transport group orders 1,200 'green buses' from Wrightbus |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/oct/08/go-ahead-transport-group-orders-1200-green-buses-from-wrightbus |access-date=23 October 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=8 October 2024 |location=London}}{{cite news |last1=Deakin |first1=Tim |title=Go-Ahead agrees 1,200 zero-emission bus deal with Wrightbus |url=https://www.route-one.net/news/go-ahead-agrees-1200-zero-emission-bus-deal-with-wrightbus/ |access-date=23 October 2024 |work=routeone |date=8 October 2024}} The first Go-Ahead operator to announce they were receiving vehicles from this deal was Pulhams Coaches, who will take delivery of nine GB Kite Electroliners during 2025.{{cite news |last1=Halford |first1=Paul |title=Pulhams has 15 electric buses on order from Wrightbus |url=https://www.route-one.net/news/pulhams-has-15-electric-buses-on-order-from-wrightbus/ |access-date=23 October 2024 |work=routeone |date=23 October 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{commons category-inline}}
- [https://wrightbus.com/en-gb/gb-kite-electroliner-bev Wrightbus Electroliner product description]
- [https://wrightbus.com/en-gb/gb-kite-hydroliner-fcev Wrightbus Hydroliner product description]
{{Wrightbus}}
Category:Battery electric buses