November 26 2024
Transport UK London Bus is honoured and delighted to support the iconic London Transport Museum to tell the story of EV Bus innovation by adding to the award-winning venue’s fantastic displays.
This September, London Transport Museum welcomed a remarkable new interactive vehicle display into its Galleries, parked up amongst its extensive transport history collection — a section of a Wrightbus Electroliner with an interactive driver cab and passenger space. This is the first time the Museum has represented an electric London bus within its permanent displays.
Museum visitors will be in for a treat as they board an example of Britain’s public transport EV technology. They will be able to explore the front section of a Wrightbus Electroliner, discover what it is like to drive a modern EV London bus and experience the latest innovations that make travelling on an EV bus more comfortable, convenient and safe.
- Visitors can experience the view from the driver’s cab in an all-electric vehicle! This state-of-the-art bus front is full of innovative technology, including groundbreaking safety features such as video screens and cameras instead of mirrors, as seen on the very latest and safest London buses.
- The latest high-resolution digital screens from Navaho share route information in colour to visitors.
- The all-digital bus blind supplied by Hanover Displays makes it easy to read the destination.
- Visitors can ’turn on’ the Zenobē electric charger to ensure the batteries are fully charged.
UK London Bus and the Wrightbus team
The Wrightbus Electroliner is a zero-emission double-deck bus manufactured in Britain, with a range of up to 200 miles and fast charging capability. Transport UK London Bus has mobilised over 100 Wrightbus Electroliners onto London bus routes since 2023. Each bus has been designed with customer comfort in mind, with comfortable interiors and skylights on the top deck. More importantly, these zero-emission buses are making London’s streets cleaner and greener, improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions.
The bus section and interactive elements included are all current technology found on Transport UK London Bus Electronliners in service in London. The Museum’s new Electroliner exhibit has been specially engineered and fitted out by RGI Bus and Coach Refurbishment to fit the Museum’s unique space and allow access to visitors to explore and learn about this cutting-edge EV vehicle. The chassis was provided by Wrightbus.
Several other suppliers supported the project. Hanover Displays provided the destination display at the front and side of the vehicle, Journeo provided the driver Camera Monitoring System, and Navaho provided the next stop display and general information screen inside the bus. Lazzerini provided the seating fitted inside the bus, AG Marketing provided the internal displays, and Zenobē donated an EV charger to match the equipment it has installed at several of Transport UK’s electric bus depots.
Electric vehicles are changing the face of bus transportation in London and actively supporting the Mayor of London’s vision for a zero-emission future. Transport UK London Bus is excited to share this vital message with the thousands of people visiting London Transport Museum annually.
Alastair Willis, Commercial Director at Transport UK London Bus, said:
‘We are incredibly proud of our EV fleet, which has customer comfort and safety at its heart. We are absolutely thrilled that our specially engineered bus can share the story of EV innovation with millions of visitors at London Transport Museum over the coming years.
Supporting this exhibit, which will inspire future generations as they experience being in a cab of an electric London Bus, is a huge honour. I would also like to thank all the suppliers who kindly supported this exciting project and enabled us to make it happen.’
Ross Cleaver, Head of Repair and Refurbishment Wrightbus UK, formerly Managing Director of RGI Bus and Coach Refurbishment, said:
‘We are thrilled to work alongside London Transport Museum and Transport UK London Bus to deliver an immersive experience that visitors will love. We are very proud that our engineering expertise has supported this accessible and unique exhibit that celebrates the innovation behind London’s EV buses.’
Jon Eardley, Managing Director at AllServiceOne for Wrightbus and former Managing Director of Transport UK London Bus, said:
‘We’re delighted to see our innovative Wrightbus zero emission technology that is transforming London’s bus journeys being celebrated and showcased in the iconic London Transport Museum. We know customers love our new zero-emission buses and want to know more about them - so we are truly excited that they will have this wonderful opportunity to explore them. Our world-class vehicles already support thousands of high skilled green jobs across the UK and I hope this new interactive display will inspire many young visitors to become the next generation of designers, engineers, drivers and transport leaders’
Alan Pilbeam, CCO of Transport UK, commented:
“Transport UK is leading the way to create sustainable public transport across the capital. Transport UK London Bus is the first company to fully electrify all its depots. With nearly 80% of the fleet already converted to hybrid or electric power, we are also on track to be fully electrified long before the Mayor of London’s 2030 target.
“We are proud to partner with the London Transport Museum, Wrightbus and Transport for London. We hope the EV bus display inspires the next generation to explore rewarding careers in the transport industry.”
Elizabeth McKay, Director and CEO, London Transport Museum, said:
‘London Transport Museum is dedicated to telling the evolving story of transport in the capital and for the first time we will be showcasing an electric London bus as part of our fantastic permanent displays. Thanks to the continued generosity of Transport UK London Bus, our visitors will have a new and immersive opportunity to discover cutting-edge technology and the future of sustainable travel in our city.’
Find out more about the London Transport Museum and discover what it is like to drive one of London's zero-emission buses!
London Transport Museum
