Stagecoach London orders Enviro100EV and Enviro400EV buses
Stagecoach London is the first bus operator in the capital to order Alexander Dennis next-generation battery-electrics after concluding a deal for 24 Enviro100EV small single-deckers and 17 Enviro400EV double-deckers.
They will be delivered in early 2025. The Enviro100EVs will seat 21 to Transport for London (TfL) specification within an 8.5m length and have 354kWh of battery capacity. The Enviro400EVs will be at 10.5m and carry up to 62 seated passengers, with 472kWh of energy storage.
Both models meet the latest iterations of the TfL Bus Safety Standard, with Alexander Dennis saying that it was the first vehicle builder “to receive a positive result from independent impact testing of its buses’ revised front geometry.”
The manufacturer says that the products will deliver excellent total cost of ownership (TCO) for Stagecoach London, with battery durability key to that.
Group Sales and Business Development Manager Ben Werth adds: “This new order further confirms the incredible success of our next-generation vehicle platform, which we have designed in-house from the ground up to drive value for the UK bus industry through efficiency, longevity and flexibility.
“Before the first London-specification demonstrators have even hit the road, orders are in place from Stagecoach as the group recognises our next-generation buses’ potential to deliver outstanding TCO with an electric drive system that could last two full TfL route contract terms without a need for battery replacement.”
The order for next-generation Alexander Dennis battery-electrics by Stagecoach London follows others placed by the group for its provincial fleets and takes the number of announced vehicles from that range for Stagecoach to 360.
Among those are 20 Enviro100EV models for use by Stagecoach in Scotland as the launch deal for that vehicle; 55 Enviro400EVs for Oxford; and 244 across the Enviro100EV, Enviro400EV and pending Enviro200EV products that form part of successful Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme second phase bids in England.
Stagecoach London Managing Director Paul Lynch comments: “We are looking forward to operating these buses, which promise a step forward in range and longevity. They add to our rapidly growing electric bus fleet as we play our part in delivering TfL and the Mayor’s targets for London, as well as our own Stagecoach commitments on carbon reduction.”
BASE and Centrad underline importance of CCTV on vehicles
BASE Coach Sales and Centrad are celebrating almost a decade of working together on the fitment of CCTV systems to vehicles supplied by the Lancashire dealership by highlighting the ever-increasing importance of such equipment on insurance coverage.
The relationship began when BASE was recommended to Centrad, which has an extensive record of working with coach operators. It now provides eight- and 12-camera systems to Beulas and MOBIpeople coaches imported by BASE. Those units capture footage around the exterior of vehicles as well as inside them, including the stairwells.
BASE notes that comprehensive CCTV coverage is even more important given insurance costs. Says General Manager Nick Dodgson: “With insurance premiums being at an all-time high, the importance of having evidence-based solutions retrofitted onto our vehicles has never been more vital.
“This is further highlighted by the fact that we have had numerous conversations with customers who have been informed by their insurers that without vehicle camera systems in place, they are more or less uninsurable.”
Mr Dodgson adds that the hierarchy of road users introduced in recent years means that coach and bus drivers bear an even greater burden to reduce the danger posed to other road users by their vehicles.
“With greater expectation and responsibility placed on drivers to ensure that they are operating safely on the roads, technological support, such as CCTV camera systems, is required in order to mitigate the threat of unsolicited claims or claims where the coach driver is not at fault.”
BASE sits closely aligned to operator Holmeswood Coaches. Mr Dodgson says that there has been a “huge” shift in driver attitudes towards cameras.
“Where previously they felt that such solutions evoked a Big Brother feel, many who drive for our customers now claim that they feel they cannot carry out their role without them – largely because they know they have a safety net at all times if an incident does occur, whether that involves passengers, other vehicles, or vulnerable road users.”
On the dealership’s work on CCTV with Centrad, Mr Dodgson says that BASE sees as major positives the supplier’s respected position within the coach and bus industry and its approach to quality and aftersales support, alongside its willingness to listen.
“Camera systems ultimately remove the debate in identifying who is at fault in the event of an incident, as operators can use footage as clear and tangible evidence.
“Without such solutions in place, insurers openly state that fighting insurance claims would be extremely difficult – highlighted by the fact that the vast majority of customers now request to start day one with their vehicle having a camera system installed. Nor would we recommend otherwise.”
First Bus orders 169 Yutong electrics for ZEBRA 2 successful bids
First Bus has ordered 169 Yutong battery-electric buses from dealership Pelican Bus and Coach. They form part of four successful local authority (LA) bids to the second round of the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA 2) scheme in England.
Notably, 127 of them will be the U11DD double-decker, with the remaining 42 being E10 and E12 single-deck models. The total makes First Bus the biggest customer thus far for Yutong products in the UK and narrowly eclipses a 158-unit order recently placed by Stagecoach.
Depots in Basildon, Hengrove (Bristol), Taunton and Weston-super-Mare will receive the buses. Nine more battery-electrics from Wrightbus form part of the ZEBRA 2 work at the depots involved to give a total of 178 buses for First Bus via that initiative, which when combined represents an £89 million investment in vehicles and infrastructure.
When complete, the order will take to in excess of 800 the number of battery-electric with First Bus, and to 14 the number of its depots with supporting infrastructure. It says that some of the latest vehicles will be used on rural and interurban services.
Speaking about the deal with Yutong, First Bus Chief Operating Officer Andrew Jarvis says: “We are delighted to place this order with the team at Pelican. [It] marks another significant milestone as we invest further in our journey towards a zero-emission bus fleet across our UK operations.
“We are excited to be able to bring new state-of-the-art vehicles to our customers, who will see the immediate benefit of these transformative projects, and we look forward to getting these vehicles out in service for customers in the months to come.
“It is an exciting time for our colleagues at all four of these sites as we start to transform and futureproof out depots. This is also great news for our customers, who will see the benefits of these state-of-the-art vehicles – including improved local air quality and the enhanced customer experience that EVs bring.”
The Yutong order by First Bus follows successful operation of E10 and E12 single-deckers in Aberdeen, Leeds, and South Wales. First South Yorkshire has trialled a U11DD demonstrator and Head of Yutong UK Ian Downie notes that it “was found to be as reliable and economical as our market leading single-decks” during that work.
Mr Downie adds that the latest vehicles will come with air-conditioning, USB charging points, enhanced passenger information systems, and induction hearing loops. After arrival from China, they will be completed by Pelican at its premises in Castleford, with delivery of all 169 to First Bus scheduled for completion within 16 months of 1 July.
Basildon depot will receive 24 of the U11DD double-deckers and 31 single-deckers; Hengrove will get 67 double-deckers and seven single-deckers; Taunton will take 12 U11DDs and four single-deckers; and Weston-super-Mare will welcome 24 double-deckers.