Manufacturer Wrightbus Floor type Low floor Engine Vauxhall/Ford Puma | Doors 1 or 2 doors Chassis Based on VDL DB250 | |
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Assembly Ballymena, Northern Ireland | ||
The Wright Pulsar Gemini HEV is a hybrid double-decker bus built by Wrightbus. It is also the first hybrid double-decker in the UK. The bus is based on a VDL DB250 chassis, without the engine. Wrightbus have used a hybrid engine, using both diesel and battery combination.
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Arriva London
The first vehicle was unveiled in Euro Bus Expo 2006 held in National Exhibition Centre, Solihull, then being delivered to Arriva London in 2007 for evaluation, as HEV1 (LJ07 ECE). In 2008, after working with Arriva London, this bus went on to work at East Thames Buses (TfL) Mandela Way garage for six months for more trials mainly on route 1. Starting from September 2010, LJ07 ECE worked with First Somerset & Avon with fleet number 39000.
Dublin Bus
The second bus was delivered to Dublin Bus of Ireland in late 2008. It was withdrawn in early 2012 and sold to Ensignbus, where it caught fire in mid-2012 due to an electrical fault.
London General
The third one was delivered to London General and entered service in 2009. It left the fleet in early 2012. Its current whereabouts are unknown.
Replacement
The Pulsar Gemini HEV was superseded by the Gemini 2 HEV with chassis modules supplied by VDL Bus.