Driventic equips outdated electric biplanes with new electric drives
In London, 28 aging electric double-decker buses are being completely overhauled: they will receive new batteries and electric drives. The latter are supplied by the German drive system specialist Driventic. After modernization, these electric double-deckers are set to return to service for the transportation company Metroline.
Image: Driventic
According to the portal Busplaner, Wrightbus’s subsidiary NewPower is working on modernizing the 28 Optare Metrodecker EV buses. These buses will receive entirely new electric components at NewPower’s facility in Bicester. This is not a traditional conversion from diesel to electric; rather, the double-decker buses already have electric drives and batteries on board, but these have aged and need to be replaced with newer solutions.
A German supplier is also involved in this project: Driventic will provide its VEDS electric drive system. Axles, batteries, and climate control systems will also be replaced in Metroline’s electric double-decker buses. For example, CATL will supply the new batteries.
Driventic is the former drive technology division of supplier Voith, which was spun off a year ago and has since operated independently. At the time of its announcement in November 2025, Driventic was set to establish itself as a specialist in alternative and conventional drive technologies for the commercial vehicle industry. Voith introduced its subsidiary at Busworld 2025 in Brussels even before its official launch. According to those statements, the new company based in Heidenheim intended to focus heavily on expanding its business in electric mobility. At the same time, Voith emphasized that Driventic was also meant to strengthen the company’s market position in conventional drive solutions.
The commercial vehicle portfolio managed by Driventic includes drive solutions for trucks, buses, and off-highway vehicles, such as the electric drive systems VEDS, VEDS 1.5, and VEDS 2.2. The first of these has been on the market for six years, the VEDS 1.5 system is available as an upgrade since mid-2025, and the latest version was introduced in the summer of 2026. All three solutions share the common feature of being electric direct-drive systems.
Driventic emphasizes that the drive system is particularly lightweight due to its compact design. With a torque of 3,100 Nm and a power output of 320 kW (continuous power for 30 minutes), the heavy-duty version of the electric motor is mainly suitable for single-decker buses, heavy articulated buses, and double-deckers. A medium-duty version is also available, with 2,850 Nm of torque and 240 kW of continuous power.