ABC #397

NEWS
director Paul Davies said: “With
the market’s widest range of clean
buses, we have been able to meet
National Express Group’s fleet
requirements as it begins
the transition from buying diesel
to zero-emission buses, allowing
us to grow our long-standing
relationship.
“We look forward to continuing to
support National Express as it moves
towards the bold target of having a
fully zero emission bus fleet in the
West Midlands by 2030.”
INITIAL NATIONAL
EXPRESS DOUBLE-DECK
E-BUS ORDER COMPLETES
AS PART OF a batch of 29 ADL-BYD
Enviro400EV double-deck electric
buses aiding UK operator National
Express making its zero-emission
transition, the remaining 10 units
have been delivered for service in
Coventry, the companies jointly
announced recently.
Following the first 19 buses
starting service in Birmingham
earlier this year, Alexander Dennis
Limited (ADL) and BYD Europe
jointly announced the delivery of the
remaining 10 double-deckers in line
with the operator’s pledge to “never
buy another diesel bus”.
ADL is a subsidiary of leading
independent global bus
manufacturer NFI Group Inc. (NFI),
while BYD is a global leader in
batteries, energy management and
electric mobility, they state.
With the latest “clean buses”
having entered service in Coventry,
it links the city centre and University
Hospital, the companies explain.
Built to National Express’s
Platinum standard, the 10.9m-long
ADL-BYD Enviro400EV offers
extra legroom for up to 65 seated
passengers, as well as USB chargers
and free Wi-Fi, ADL confirms. An
advanced heat pump system
ensures that saloon heating power
is supplied efficiently from the main
batteries without unduly impacting
operational range, it adds.
OPTIMISED ENERGY
To simplify the transition to electric
buses for National Express, the
382kW/h BYD iron-phosphate
batteries on each vehicle are
maintained by Zenobe Energy – one
the UK’s largest owner-operators of
mobile and stationary batteries –
which provides them to the operator
along with the charging system at
the depot and a software platform
that helps monitor and optimise
energy use, ADL explains.
David Bradford, managing
director of National Express Bus,
said: “Buses are already one of the
cleanest ways to travel and as a
leading transport operator we are
determined to go even further.
“Earlier this year we announced
our ambition to have a
zero-emission bus fleet from 2030,
so we’re very proud that National
Express is bringing fully electric
buses to the people of Coventry.
“By working together in
partnership we are determined
to improve bus services and drive
down pollution and emissions,
which contribute to poor air quality
and climate change.”
ADL president and managing
Above and
Below:
“Were very proud
that National
Express is bringing
fully electric buses
to the people of
Coventry,” said
David Bradford,
managing director
of National
Express Bus.
TANGIBLE BENEFITS
BYD (UK) managing director Frank
Thorpe said: “The commitment to a
zero-emissions fleet from National
Express is as commendable as it is
bold, and is indicative of more and
more public transport operators
who see electrification in particular
as a viable long-term solution for
their scheduled routes.
“Our BYD ADL Enviro400EV
double-decker is a proven product,
already in service with a growing
number of customers, delivering
tangible operational benefits and
providing safe, quiet, emissions-free
transport for their passengers.”
Zenobe Energy co-founder Steven
Meersman said: “We are delighted
to see our partnership with National
Express, ADL and BYD expand to
Coventry in our second joint depot
in the Midlands.
“This project perfectly
demonstrates how Zenobe’s
seamless solutions, powered by
our proprietary management
software that guarantees charging
levels and battery range over
the life of the vehicles, helps
National Express meet its net-zero
commitments in a frictionless,
financially sustainable way.”
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ABC September 2020 busnews.com.au