Nineteen electric double decker buses have entered service in Birmingham as part of National Express’ plans to run an entirely zero-emission bus fleet by 2030.
The double deckers, all BYD ADL Enviro400Ev models, produced by electric vehicle partnership Alexander Dennis Ltd (ADL) and BYD Europe, are the first of 29 models that will eventually go into service in the West Midlands.
They are charged entirely by renewable energy and utilise a stationery battery system to balance the load on the electricity grid.
The 10.9m long buses are built to National Express’ Platinum standard, offering extra legroom for the 65 seated passengers as well as USB chargers, free wi-fi and other amenities. An advanced heat pump system ensures that saloon heating power is supplied efficiently from the main batteries without undue impact on operational range.
All 19 buses run out of National Express’ 80-year old Yardley Wood garage, which has been retrofitted with plug chargers for each bus along with a stationery battery, provided by Zenobe Energy, that balances the load on the grid.
Ten further vehicles will be introduced in Coventry in the autumn. The investment has been supported with a £3 million grant from the UK Government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles.
Tom Stables, managing director of National Express UK, said: “At National Express, zero-emission is not the future – it’s the here-and-now. Our bus fleet will be zero emission by 2030, and we’re very proud to bring fully electric buses to the people of the West Midlands.”
Colin Robertson, chief executive of ADL, added: “National Express has taken the decision to never buy another diesel bus, the first UK bus operator to do so. We have worked in close collaboration with National Express West Midlands and our partner BYD to ensure that these first 29 electric buses are a great start into a zero-emission future for Birmingham, Coventry and the wider West Midlands.”
Frank Thorpe, BYD (UK) managing director, said that National Express’ commitment to build a zero-emission fleet was “as commendable as it is bold.” He added: “[It] is indicative of more and more public transport operators who see electrification in particular as a viable long-term solution for their scheduled routes.”
