Skeleton Technologies and British bus manufacturer Wrights Group have announced the signing of a high-volume, multi-million-euro contract for the next 5 years. Skeleton Technologies will supply graphene-based supercapacitors to the latest KERS enabled hybrid-electric double and single deck buses produced by the Wrights Group.

The demand to reduce CO2 emissions in city centers is one of the key drivers for WrightBus to implement new technology which cuts such emissions by saving fuel. The integration of graphene-based supercapacitors into test WrightBus double deck buses reportedly enables a 36% fuel saving compared to a UK-based EuroVI diesel bus baseline. It also adds at least another 3 passengers to the capacity of these buses compared to a lithium battery-based hybrid equivalent.

With Skeleton Technologies’ supercapacitors, Wrightbus operators will also be cutting down on maintenance costs; While the lithium battery may last around 4 to 5 years, during their 1 million cycles, the supercapacitors will reportedly last for at least 7.5 years, with an estimated life of 12 to 15 years.

Mr. Taavi Madiberk, CEO of Skeleton Technologies commented: “Ultracapacitors have been integrated into buses before but the energy and power densities of our ultracapacitors have been key in the selection process. We are excited to be part of the CO2 reduction drive in cities onboard with Wrightbus.”