Alexander Dennis and BYD Europe have announced the supply of two electric double deck buses to Stagecoach in Cambridge, marking the first use of the zero-emission BYD ADL Enviro400EV in the UK outside London.
Passengers on the Citi 6 route in Cambridge became the first in the UK regions to use the BYD ADL Enviro400EV when the electric double deckers entered service on Stagecoach’s city network on February 17.
Alexander Dennis, a subsidiary of global bus manufacturer NFI Group, has supplied the buses to Stagecoach for a project between the operator and Greater Cambridge Partnership to support an improvement in air quality in the city centre and to inform potential future investment in a zero-emission bus fleet.
The BYD ADL Enviro400EV is built in Alexander Dennis’ UK factories on chassis supplied by its electric bus partner for the UK market, BYD, a Chinese developer of batteries, energy management systems and e-mobility solutions.
Stagecoach has opted for the 4.2m low-height version of Alexander Dennis’ City style body, seating up to 70 passengers. The 10.9m-long vehicles provide room for a further 13 standees.
Michelle Hargreaves, managing director, Stagecoach East, said: “Over the years we have steadily reduced the environmental impact of our diesel buses and now 32% of the fleet have the most efficient Euro 6 engines.
“The addition of the electric vehicles is a further step forward in our attempts to keep emissions to a minimum.
“Over the past decade across the UK, Stagecoach has invested more than £1bn in new greener vehicles and by the end of 2020 it will have one of the biggest electric bus fleets in Europe.”
Want to learn more about how electric buses can benefit your town or city? CiTTi Exhibition takes place on the 3rd and 4th of June at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena. Register your interest to attend at www.cittiexhibition.co.uk
