Alexander Dennis brings AD Repower in-house following KleanDrive ownership change

Alexander Dennis is bringing its AD Repower battery-electric bus conversion programme in-house, with initial projects focusing on Enviro400-family double-deckers in the UK.

The NFI Group subsidiary first announced AD Repower in August 2025 in partnership with a specialist engineering company that the company doesn’t specify in its latest release, but was previously mentioned being KleanDrive. The partner subsequently entered administration and its assets were sold to a new owner, which is former Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer’s PETL. After this, Alexander Dennis decided to continue the programme internally.

Seven engineering specialists who had been part of the partner company’s team have now joined Alexander Dennis. The manufacturer states that the new employees will be based at its Harlow facility, where one of its AD24 Workshops will carry out the conversion work.

The programme will be led by Jamie Wilson, Head of Concepts & Advanced Engineering at Alexander Dennis.

Alexander Dennis takes AD Repower electric bus conversions in-house

AD Repower is designed to convert existing Alexander Dennis buses from their original powertrain to battery-electric propulsion rather than replacing the complete vehicle.

Alexander Dennis says bringing the programme in-house will give the company direct responsibility for engineering development, quality assurance and customer support.

The first projects will concentrate on Enviro400-family double-deck buses operating in the UK. Alexander Dennis has not provided technical specifications for the conversion package in the latest announcement, including battery capacity, electric drivetrain configuration, range or charging characteristics.

The company also has not disclosed the number of vehicles currently scheduled for conversion or identified operators participating in the first in-house projects.

Seven engineers join Alexander Dennis for AD Repower programme

The transition includes the recruitment of seven engineering specialists previously involved in AD Repower through the former partner company.

They will work from Alexander Dennis’s Harlow site, which hosts one of the manufacturer’s AD24 Workshops. The Harlow workshop will undertake the physical conversion work on AD Repower vehicles.

Following the initial focus on UK Enviro400-family double-deckers, Alexander Dennis says it will evaluate demand for conversions of other products and in additional markets. No timetable for that potential expansion has been announced.

In brief

• What is Alexander Dennis AD Repower?
  It is a programme for converting existing Alexander Dennis buses to battery-electric propulsion.
• Why is AD Repower being brought in-house?
  Alexander Dennis says its former engineering partner entered administration and its assets were subsequently sold to a new owner.
• Which buses will initially be converted?
  The first projects will focus on Enviro400-family double-deckers in the UK.
• Where will the conversions take place?
  Conversion work will be carried out at Alexander Dennis’s AD24 Workshop in Harlow.

Jamie Wilson, Head of Concepts & Advanced Engineering for Alexander Dennis, said: “Bringing AD Repower in-house gives us full control of the engineering development, quality assurance and customer support for our zero-emission conversion programme. The expertise joining our team strengthens our ability to deliver a practical route for operators to extend the life of proven Alexander Dennis vehicles while accelerating their transition to cleaner fleets.”