The Wright StreetAir is a low-floor single-decker electric bus design built by Wrightbus in Ballymena, Northern Ireland in 2016 and 17. An integral product based on a single-deck variant of the Wright StreetDeck chassis, the StreetAir replaces the Wright Electrocity in Wrightbus' product range.
| Wright StreetAir | |
|---|---|
 Lothian Buses Wright StreetAir at Princes Street in March 2018. | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Wrightbus |
| Production | 2016-2017 |
| Assembly | Ballymena, Northern Ireland |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Single-decker electric bus |
| Doors | 1 or 2 |
| Floor type | Low floor |
| Chassis | Integral |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 10.6 metres (35 ft) |
| Width | 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) |
| Height | 3.0 metres (9.8 ft) |
| Curb weight | 18 tonnes |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Wright Electrocity |
| Successor | Wright GB Kite |
History
edit
The StreetAir was initially revealed in August 2016 as the replacement for the Wright Electrocity. It is based on a single-deck, all-electric version of the Wright StreetDeck integral double-decker bus. The StreetAir was available in a single 10.6 metre length weighing 18 tonnes.[1][2]
The body design of the StreetAir is based on the Wright Eclipse Urban. The StreetAir was available with electricity conduction via overnight (plug-in), inductive (through the road surface) or conductive (with a pantograph) methods.[3][4]
The first six StreetAirs entered service with Lothian Buses in October 2017, [5][6] aside from a single prototype vehicle trialled with bus operators in London.
A similar model to the Streetair, 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. This replaced the Wright Streetair.
Unbuilt variants
editWhen the StreetAir was first launched in August 2016, it was also offered as a double-decker bus based on the Wright StreetDeck and as a shorter-wheelbase single-decker bus based on the Wright StreetLite WF as opposed to the longer door-forward StreetDeck chassis. The short wheelbase variant was intended to replace the Wright StreetLite EV, with a number of drivetrain improvements over the previous model. None of either variant had been built by the time Wrightbus entered administration in September 2019, and both were dropped from the Wrightbus range after they exited administration.[2][7][8]
References
edit- ^ "Wrightbus welcomes OLEV results announcement and highlights electric bus range". Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. 10 August 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Wrightbus' new range of electric buses revealed". routeone. 1 October 2017. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ "Wrightbus extends electric options with new 10.6m StreetAir EV DF". Bus and Coach. 8 August 2016. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018.
- ^ Cole, David (9 August 2016). "StreetAir". Bus & Coach Buyer. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ "First fully electric public buses in Edinburgh unveiled ahead of launch". Peeblesshire News. 28 September 2017. Archived from the original on 4 October 2017.
- ^ "Lothian is first to put Wrightbus StreetAir buses on the road". routeone. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ "Wrightbus showcases the first vehicles from its new range of electric buses". 4 August 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ Campbell, John (25 September 2019). "Wrightbus administrators confirm 1,200 job losses". BBC News NI. Retrieved 28 September 2019.