FLY service begins trial of Yutong GTe14 battery-electric coach
Xplore Dundee's FLY coach service between Dundee and Edinburgh Airport is benefiting from a trial of a Yutong GTe14 battery-electric coach, which is on loan from Pelican Bus and Coach.
Driver Gareth Almond took control of the launch journey, in which Cllr Lynne Short, Dundee City Spokesperson for Culture, Sport and History, as well as McGill’s Group Managing Director Alex Hornby and Xplore Dundee Director and General Manager, Stephen Riggans, were all on board.
Testing will continue over the summer months of the tri-axle, which has a range of up to 300 miles on a single charge.
The 53-seater coach debuted on National Express's London to Stansted Airport service this spring.
Mr Hornby says: “I am proud that we are continuing our zero-emission journey with this exciting trial of a new, electric model coach on Xplore Dundee’s popular FLY coach link between Dundee and Edinburgh Airport.
“This demonstrates our continued investment to provide high-quality vehicles for our customers and to reduce emissions within our communities.
"This live testing is particularly apt in the week Dundee introduced its Low Emission Zone, with which we have been fully compliant for some time through our fleet of low and zero-emission buses and coaches at Xplore Dundee.”
Cllr Short adds: “This is an exciting development on what is a busy route to and from Edinburgh Airport, particularly as many people prepare for their summer getaway.
“I commend McGill’s Group not only for their investment in the FLY route but also their commitment to zero-emission, electric vehicles. This route provides vital connectivity for the city of Dundee and I’m delighted that McGill’s Group are continually looking for new ways to enhance it and attract even more passengers.”
24 Enviro400EV 'deckers among large Reading Buses ADL order
Reading Buses will receive 24 latest-generation Enviro400EV battery-electric double-deckers as part of a 53-vehicle order placed with Alexander Dennis.
The Enviro400EV fleet and its associated infrastructure are part-funded by a successful bid by Reading Borough Council to the second round of the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas fund. It was allocated £4.7 million. The operator will upgrade its Great Knollys Street depot with 13 fast chargers that can each handle two buses at once as part of the work.
When the Enviro400EVs are in service from June 2025, they will displace some of the operator’s existing biogas-fuelled vehicles to enable the retirement of older diesel buses. The battery-electrics will be deployed onto the Purple 17 and Claret 21 routes, with the latter serving the University of Reading.
Managing Director Robert Williams says that the Enviro400EV was chosen after “extensive testing of demonstrators from a number of suppliers.” Passenger and driver experience were prioritised in the decision. The model "has the best layout for customers” and drivers like it, Mr Williams adds.
In addition to the battery-electrics, 29 diesel buses will also be procured from Alexander Dennis. 21 Enviro400 double-deckers are to be complemented by eight Enviro200 single-deckers.
The diesel double-deckers will arrive between October and December and will be utilised on longer-distance duties including the Jet Black route between Reading and Newbury and the London Line 702 and Flightline 703 services. Glazed staircases, skylights and tables form part of their high specification level in the same vein as others already in the fleet.
Newbury and District will receive the Enviro200s to completely replace the local fleet there on a mix of commercial and contracted services.
Mr Williams adds that those buses will suit rural applications in West Berkshire. “They will be a real step change for our customers in the area as we bring some more of the Reading Buses sparkle to Newbury and District," he concludes.
Zenobe to make use of second-life batteries
Zenobe, a leading supplier of charging infrastructure, has partnered with Select to make use of 20 used batteries to provide clean power for construction sites.
The battery units, which will each supply 150kwh of energy, will be used as greener alternatives to diesel generators by the subsidiary of Laing O’Rourke. The temporary power sources will be able to connect the local grid.
Select says the development will help enable the business to achieve operational net-zero by 2030.
Select’s Product Lead, Ian Fleming, says: “Our collaboration with Zenobe represents another pivotal moment in our journey to redefining the future of energy storage in the construction industry.
"It emphasises Select’s commitment to innovation, sustainability solutions and resilience, setting a new standard for the industry and empowering a cleaner, more reliable construction landscape."
Zenobe’s Co-Founder Director, Steven Meersman, adds: “Our portable batteries, made from refurbished electric bus batteries, provide Select Power with a ready and proven solution for their customers to decarbonise their projects.
"Our flexible funding and technical support provide the technological and sustainability benefits without the need of ownership.
"Having already been used in the film, events, and logistics industries to much success, we are looking forward to seeing them becoming a regular sight, providing clean and reliable power to construction projects around the country.”