Zeta says that EconoSpeed Connect cuts fuel use and emissions by 8% -- and, it says, combined with the Grayson E-Drive, an electric fan cooling system, operators could save a further 15%.
The companies say they will also explore “natural synergies” between their product ranges.
Zeta Automotive’s John Lawrence (pictured, left, with Grayson’s Richard Harris) says: “Grayson’s experience in the bus and coach sector is second to none and we are very excited about our partnership, possible product combinations with EconoSpeed Connect and the extended team of service engineers now available to us.”
Grayson is hoping the distribution deal will deliver more than £3m of new sales in the first year.
Stuart Hateley, Grayson’s managing director, says: “It was during the development of E-Drive when we first realised that the two companies had products that could be integrated together to deliver a single solution to the end user.
“The electric fan we used to replace the power-sapping hydraulic system meant we created added power at the fly wheel and we needed a way to control it, which is where EconoSpeed came into its own.”
Hateley adds: “In EconoSpeed Connect, we have a way of controlling driver acceleration and speed, and we want to move this to the next level with the possibility of using GPS mapping to adapt vehicle speed when in certain areas.
“This means we’ll be able to limit the bus or coach to the maximum speed of the road it is travelling on.”