Wright GB Kite

Wright GB Kite
First Leeds Wright GB Kite Electroliner on The Headrow, Leeds, in February 2024
Overview
ManufacturerWrightbus
Production2022–present
AssemblyBallymena, Northern Ireland
Body and chassis
ClassElectric bus
Fuel cell bus
Doors1 or 2
Floor typeLow floor
ChassisIntegral
RelatedWright GB Hawk
Wright StreetDeck
Powertrain
Capacity90 maximum
Battery
Range
  • Electroliner BEV
  • 250 miles (400 km)[1]
  • Hydroliner FCEV
  • 640 miles (1,030 km)[2]
Dimensions
Length10.9 metres (36 ft), 11.6 metres (38 ft), 12.5 metres (41 ft)
Width2.5 metres (8.2 ft)
Height3.3 metres (11 ft)
Chronology
PredecessorWright Eclipse 3
Wright StreetAir

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.[1][2]

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.[3] The Electroliner BEV has a maximum range of 250 miles (400 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 640 miles (1,030 km), powered with a with either a 70 or 100kwh fuel cell system produced by Ballard Power Systems in combination with a 35 kg (77 lb) or 50 kg (110 lb) hydrogen tank.[4] Regular production of both GB Kite variants was fully underway by December 2022.[5]

  1. ^ a b "GB Kite Electroliner BEV". Wrightbus. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b "GB Kite Hydroliner FCEV". Wrightbus. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Wrightbus to launch electric and hydrogen powered GB Kite". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 7 September 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Wrightbus presents electric & fuel cell single-decker buses". electrive. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  5. ^ May, Tiana (9 December 2022). "Wrightbus Advances Production of GB Kite Electroliner". Bus-News. Retrieved 15 December 2022.