Alexander Dennis has appointed KleanDrive as conversion partner for its newly created AD Repower arm in a collaboration that will see the repurposing of diesel buses to battery-electric, with an initial focus on the current-generation Enviro400 double-decker.
That repower will see the installation to the Enviro400 of 352kWh of battery capacity, of which 324kWh will be usable. Lithium iron phosphate chemistry will be used with cells from CATL. Beyond the Enviro400, “other models and markets could follow” with sufficient demand, Alexander Dennis says.
A pilot converted Enviro400 is expected to take to the road in Q2 2026, KleanDrive adds. Pre-conversion seated passenger capacity will be retained after repowering. A range of 195 miles is claimed at 50% passenger occupancy with use of a ‘plug and play’ battery-electric drivetrain and control software.
The package will include Voith Electrical Drive System motors housed with all power electronics in a framework and skid system. The new driveline interfaces with existing bus controls and instrumentation, with KleanDrive noting that it has been designed for installation at an operator’s premises to minimise vehicle downtime.
Alexander Dennis Engineering Director Chris Gall says: “Repowering buses is a smart way to make a big impact on emissions and running costs for our customers with lower capital expenditure.
“The engineering on the KleanDrive drivetrain is in keeping with our reputation for quality, and we have been impressed with how well thought out the design is for easy installation and maintenance.”
Mr Gall adds that offering repower of diesel buses alongside the Alexander Dennis range of new battery-electric vehicles “is the quickest route to decarbonisation of our customers’ fleets, while delivering cleaner, quieter and smoother journeys for passengers.”
AD Repower is fully backed by Alexander Dennis and will be supported through the existing AD24 aftermarket platform, he continues.
Work with the NFI Group subsidiary represents a major expansion of KleanDrive’s bus repower portfolio. In 2024, FirstGroup took a £1 million stake in the supplier, and it recently received a 30-unit order from First Bus for repower of vehicles from another manufacturer.
KleanDrive CEO Joe Tighe notes that Alexander Dennis buses have a reputation for durability. “By repowering them with an EV drivetrain, we can maximise the lifespan of the vehicle, while eliminating noxious emissions and slashing running costs and CO2 emissions.
“By repowering rather than prematurely replacing, we avoid throwing away a perfectly good vehicle and the carbon dioxide that is embedded within that.”
