Seagulls Soar with Victron NG: Scalable Power for Brighton & Hove’s Team Coach
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Luxury coach travel has evolved far beyond simple transport. Today’s high-end coaches are mobile kitchens, entertainment hubs, and workspaces, expected to deliver seamless power for everything from commercial ovens and refrigeration to lighting, climate control, and connectivity.
Premier League football teams expect a well-organised, comfortable journey that prioritises player recovery and performance. The latest trends for Premier League travel focus on comfort, connectivity, and catering, with coaches featuring amenities like plush leather seating, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and even kitchenettes or lounges for players and staff. While some teams may utilise air travel, coach travel remains a key option, with specialised providers offering custom-built vehicles equipped for modern needs to ensure a comfortable and efficient journey for the club.
AD Coach Systems, based in Staffordshire, has been at the forefront of this transformation for nearly 50 years. Known for their craftsmanship and bespoke designs, they count some of the UK’s biggest football clubs and corporate fleets among their conversion projects.
But as onboard demands increase - bigger ovens, more fridges, heavier entertainment loads, the electrical challenge has grown. Meeting this challenge requires not only innovation in design but also robust, reliable, and scalable power systems.
That’s where Victron NG technology comes in.
The Challenge: More Power, Less Compromise
When Brighton & Hove’s team coach arrived at AD Coaches for its refit, the brief was clear: the electrical system needed to support substantial catering facilities, including two commercial ovens drawing 5.3kW each, alongside fridges, entertainment, and lighting.
Legacy AGM batteries could no longer deliver the performance required. The risks were clear: system failures mid-journey, inefficient charging, and wasted generator fuel. For elite teams relying on their coaches as matchday bases and mobile hospitality venues, failure was not an option.
AD Coaches needed a power solution that was:
- High capacity – able to power heavy kitchen loads reliably.
- Fast charging – reducing reliance on engines and generators.
- Safe and robust – with built-in system protection.
- Scalable and future-proof – ready to support even greater demands in the years ahead.
The Solution: Victron NG Lithium and Inverter System
Working in partnership with Energy Solutions, AD Coaches designed a system that would meet today’s demands and prepare for tomorrow’s. At the heart of the upgrade was the new Victron NG range, chosen for its reliability, flexibility, and advanced protection features.
Key components installed:
x4 Victron 24V 200Ah NG Lithium Batteries (20kWh usable capacity)
- High energy density, lightweight design, and long cycle life.
- Faster charging compared to AGM, reducing downtime.
Victron Lynx NG BMS (Battery Management System)
- Full protection against over-charge, over-discharge, and temperature extremes.
- Automatic disconnect for safety and peace of mind.
- Simplifies installation and maximises battery life.
x4 Victron Quattro 24V 8kVA Inverter/Chargers (parallel configuration)
- Delivers a robust 16kVA capacity, easily handling ovens, fridges, and entertainment simultaneously.
- Provides seamless switching between battery, shore power, and alternator input.
Victron Cerbo GX
- Central hub for system monitoring and control.
- Provides real-time visibility of battery status, load, and charging.
- Remote access enables proactive maintenance and support.
x2 Orion DC-DC BuckBoost Converters
- Efficient charging from the coach’s alternators, even with fluctuating voltage.
Semi-Flexible Solar Panels + Victron MPPT Charge Controller
- Solar supplementation to reduce generator and alternator reliance.
- Keeps batteries topped up during daylight operation.
Implementation: Trust in Reliability and Support
For AD Coaches, the choice of Victron was clear. Having used Victron products for years, they knew reliability was guaranteed. As one of the team explained:
“For years, we’ve used Victron products from Energy Solutions, and we’ve always stuck with them because we have so few problems with them. They’re really reliable, and when people see them fitted on the coach, they know they’re not going to have any trouble.”
Working with Energy Solutions also meant access to technical expertise and responsive support:
“The thing with Energy Solutions is you can pick up the phone and get all the answers you need. If we want a wiring diagram, we’ll have one sent quickly. That’s the difference, you might buy a cheaper inverter elsewhere, but you won’t get the backup. With Victron, you know you’ve got a long warranty and trusted support.”
The Results: Quiet, Reliable, Future-Proof Power
The upgraded system delivered exactly what was needed:
- Confidence for chefs and staff – dual ovens powered reliably without stressing the system.
- Faster charging – lithium batteries charge in a fraction of the time compared to AGM.
- Quieter operation – reducing reliance on generators means a better environment for players, staff, and guests.
- Future scalability – with NG systems in place, AD Coaches can expand capacity for even larger projects.
“Every customer seems to want more, and every time we deliver, the systems just get bigger and better. With Victron NG and Energy Solutions, we know we can keep up with demand.”
AD Coaches
Looking Ahead: Scaling Luxury Coach Electrification
The luxury coach sector is only moving in one direction: more power, more comfort, more technology. Whether for Premier League teams, touring coaches, or specialist corporate builds, demands will continue to grow.
Victron NG technology is proving to be the foundation for this growth, delivering safe, reliable, and efficient onboard power at scale.
Watch the Case Study Video
When you look around the AD Coach Systems workshop and hanger, you get an immediate sense of how much pride the team take in their craft. Every vehicle on site, from Premier League team coaches to specialist tour buses, reflects the company’s reputation for innovation and detail. And when you speak to the team, it’s clear that their decades of experience are matched by a genuine enthusiasm for solving challenges and delivering the very best for their clients. It’s this combination of skill, passion, and professionalism that makes AD a trusted name in the industry.
Ready to scale up your project with Victron NG technology?
As the UK’s largest Victron distributor and service centre, Energy Solutions can help design, configure, and support your next system.
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