Cardiff Bus introduces 20 Volvo B8RLE MCV Evora single-decks
Cardiff Bus has taken delivery of 20 Volvo B8RLEs with MCV Evora bodywork, supplied by Volvo Bus UK and Ireland.
They have entered service on the municipal operator’s network of routes between Cardiff, Penarth, Dinas Powys and Barry, and are cited by the business as continuing its commitment to provide "modern, reliable, dependable high-quality public transport for customers.”
Vale of Glamorgan Council Leader Cllr Lis Burnett has welcomed the renewal. She notes how the vehicle spend by Cardiff Bus sits alongside work by the local authority.
“It is part of wider investment in public transport after the council also allocated additional funding for rural bus services in its latest budget,” Cllr Burnett says. “This work aligns perfectly with our Project Zero commitment to become a carbon neutral local authority by 2030, and a carbon neutral county by 2050.”
The Volvo B8RLE MCV Evora delivery represents the first of that combination purchased by Cardiff Bus. Commercial and Operations Director Gareth Stevens underlines how the renewal is part of the company’s commitment “to providing a credible and affordable alternative to the car for many journeys.”
He continues: “These new buses will allow us to deliver an even better experience for our customers and staff, with improved comfort and vehicles across our services between Cardiff, Penarth and Barry.”
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Delta Coaches adds a Leger Luxuria-specification Scania Irizar i8
Delta Coaches of Billingham has taken delivery of a Scania K410NI with Irizar i8 bodywork, supplied by Scania UK.
It is to Leger Luxuria specification, including the brand’s distinctive metallic blue and grey livery. Seats are in a 2+1 configuration with blue and cream trim and personal monitors, full-size or drop-down tables, magazine nets, footrests, and more. A servery is at the centre.
Dark tinted glazing, polished alloy wheels and a cherished registration mark complete the vehicle, which is the first-ever Scania for Delta Coaches. It takes the Teesside fleet to a strength of 60 and is described as “a fantastic milestone for its premium touring operations” by Scania.
Power is from the DC13 engine developing 410bhp taken through an Opticruise 12-speed automated manual gearbox.
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Zenobē and Go-Ahead leverage electric bus finance framework
Zenobē has funded 280 battery-electric buses for the Go-Ahead Group under a committed finance framework agreement (CFFA). The supplier says that will significantly cut the cost, complexity and execution of deployment of those vehicles across the group’s operations.
Cited as the first of its kind in the bus industry, the CFFA provides Go-Ahead with a pre-agreed, scalable credit line that can be drawn down as required to support its move to zero-emission. Four vehicle manufacturers are represented within the funding already provided.
The supplier says that a key benefit of the CFFA is its flexibility. When operators have limited control over contract award dates and vehicle supply chains, an ability to access financing when it is needed “is critical,” Zenobē, adds. The approach is also much faster, it continues.
“Rather than entering into repeated negotiations and executing individual lease agreements – a process often slowed by administration and complexity – funding can now be drawn down quickly under pre-agreed terms," the supplier continues. The CFFA thus provides far more cost certainty for operators, it adds.
Comments Zenobē Founder and Director Steven Meersman: “This agreement marks a significant step forward in how public transport operators can finance the transition to zero-emission fleets.
“We have worked closely with Go-Ahead for many years, and this first-of-its-kind framework gives it the flexibility, speed and cost certainty it needs as electrification accelerates.”
Mr Meersman adds that while electrification of bus fleets is inevitable, a question remains over how quickly that move can be scaled.
“By removing repetitive negotiations and enabling funding to be drawn down rapidly under pre-agreed terms, we are making it easier, faster and more cost-effective to deploy electric vehicles at scale while allowing operators to stay focused on running their networks.”
Go-Ahead Group Structured Finance Director Gonzalo Velasco underlines how flexible, scalable and quick to execute financing solutions are key to electrification. He adds that the committed finance framework with Zenobē gives certainty of funding being available when required, removing unnecessary complexity and delay.
“As routes are awarded on a franchise-by-franchise basis, the ability to draw down funding rapidly under pre-agreed terms supports more effective planning and enables us to accelerate the rollout of zero-emission buses while continuing to focus on delivering reliable services for passengers.”