Nottingham City Transport orders 12 Yutong E12s
Nottingham City Transport (NCT) has placed its first order for battery-electric buses in the form of 12 Yutong E12s. They are expected to enter service from Trent Bridge depot in late 2023.
Ordering the Yutong fleet forms the first vehicular procurement in a £34m project that was awarded £15.2m from the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) mechanism and which will facilitate 78 battery-electric single-deckers for Nottingham City Transport.
In addition to the E12s from Pelican Bus and Coach, NCT has appointed Zenobe Energy as charging infrastructure provider. Zenobe will manage necessary construction, the delivery and implementation of charging software, and optimise use of the vehicles. The current infrastructure will allow NCT’s battery-electric fleet to grow in the future.
NCT Head of Engineering Liam O’Brien says that deals have been struck with Pelican and Zenobe after “a rigorous procurement process and operational trials of several electric buses.” Mr O’Brien adds that the Yutong and Zenobe combination was “a clear winner” of that. The E12s will perform a full day’s work on one overnight charge, he says.
The business case for ZEBRA funding submitted by Nottingham City Council in January notes that when all 78 battery-electric buses are delivered, NCT’s single-deck fleet will be entirely zero-emission. That forms part of an aim to have a 100% zero-emission and biogas-powered operation across the board by 2028.
The Nottingham ZEBRA bid is focused only on single-decker buses because the diesel examples in the NCT fleet are currently “nearing the end of their operational life” in the city. Investment in new battery-electric buses is thus “only brought forward slightly” from usual practice. Existing diesel single-deckers – all of which are Euro VI compliant – will be disposed of for continued use elsewhere.
While the 12 battery-electric buses ordered so far are full-length examples, the business case calls for the outstanding 68 to be 33-seaters. An NCT spokesperson says that those vehicles will be tendered for in two batches in 2023.
eVersum demonstrates autonomous-ready shuttle bus
e-Shuttle autonomous-ready electric shuttle bus makes its UK debut at Euro Bus Expo
Austrian EV manufacturer eVersum was present at Euro Bus Expo to showcase the e-Shuttle, a battery-electric shuttle bus for inner-city and airport use that can be specified in an autonomous-ready version, up to level four. Designed in-house, with an integrated electric drive axle with four-stage automatic gearbox, the e-Shuttle comes in three lengths of 5.4m, 6.9m and 8.4m, seating between 30-55 people. A modular design means the manufacturer is flexible with the door positioning and length.
Battery chemistry choices include lithium titanate oxide (LTO) and lithium, nickel and manganese (Li-Ion NMC). A low-floor design throughout, achieved through specially developed 13.5cm high battery packs placed in the floor, both gives the vehicle low centre of gravity and means interiors can be optimised for multiple duties. Battery capacity ranges from 42-84 kW/h in smaller models to 118-236kW/h in larger sizes; charging is done via a 22kwon-board charger or via pantograph-style options. Batteries are supplied by Microvast, and eVersum says it is looking at fuel cell range extender options up to 22kW.
It is the first time the bus has been presented in the UK, shortly after its exposure at an exhibition in Germany. “Historically we have had good experiences here of quantity and quality of interactions,” says Managing Partner Pete Speck, who capitalises on the fact the bus is “e-born”, with every component optimised for zero-emission application.
“It is a European-built vehicle. If you look at it, there’s nothing out there like this. It’s e-born, it’ s consequently built.”
Other features include a digital mirror-replacement system, audio-visual passenger information systems, and wheelchair ramp integrated into the vehicle floor. “We try to cater to whatever the customer needs,” adds Mr Speck. “As a market, if you have a route somewhere where you need something smaller, or where you might want to test autonomous driving down the road, this is the perfect fit.”
NXTS growing diversity with recruitment of operator partners
Interest in National Express Transport Solutions high as operator aims to scale network
National Express Transport Solutions (NXTS) was at Euro Bus Expo recruiting for a wide variety of coaching work that it is seeking to sub-contract out to partner operators. Its ambition is to scale its own businesses while enriching its coach operator partners.
NXTS hopes to build its operator database to ensure more diversity in its operator force, owing to specific requirements of customers, while addressing the national driver shortage issue. Service Delivery Manager Jodi Eede explains that the group is offering a route to build operators up from entry-level private hire work to scheduled network services. NXTS has also been building stronger partnerships with its existing operators, talking through how it can help build their businesses and integrate new technology.
“Some of our customers have really specific requirements and operators have lots of different niches, so it’s great to have that wide variety and to be able to just make those partnerships stronger and bring the coach industry back to its former glory after COVID-19, working more collaboratively as an industry,” she says. “Demand is high for all types of coaching– both scheduled services and private hire. But drivers are still low. That’s why we are trying to structure our operator network – it means we have to workharder to cover demand.
”Safety is the main focus for new operator members. “We’re looking for operators that have similar safety values to National Express, because safety is at the heart of and at the forefront of everythingthat we do,” says Ms Eede, who says the aim is to work “with partner operators that have that same thought process that safety comes first, and operators that want to provide a quality service at a great price – and that want to be busy.”
Interest at Euro Bus Expo has been high, with NXTS taking details for some 30 new operators.