First PSVAR compliant AOS Grand Toro is delivered by EVM
EVM has delivered the first PSVAR compliant example of its AOS Grand Toro front-engined midicoach. The vehicle has gone to Fylde operator Coastal Coaches, which has a second on order.
The dealership previously confirmed that PSVAR versions of both the Grand Toro and the larger AOS Visigo were in hand. An initial compliant Visigo is expected to arrive from the factory before the end of April, with EVM Area Sales Manager Matt Thompson noting that it will initially be used for demonstration purposes once prepared for service.
Mr Thompson adds that most Grand Toro stock that is to be accessible will land from Turkey in PSVAR ready condition, with items including destination displays and the lift fitted in the UK. However, some others will be fully completed at the factory.
As delivered to Coastal Coaches, the accessible Grand Toro has a 35-passenger capacity when carriage of a wheelchair user is not required. A lift is mounted immediately ahead of the drive axle, meaning that rear boot space is not compromised. When stowed, the lift sits above the central chassis rails.
EVM Managing Director Danny McGee previously said that the Grand Toro had quickly made good market headway after introduction by the dealer and converter, noting that it fits the gap left vacant since the departure of Mercedes-Benz Vario-based midicoach models around a decade ago.
At 8.52m long and 2.35m wide, the Grand Toro is powered by a four-cylinder Cummins B4.5 engine that is coupled to a six-speed Allison automatic gearbox. It is equipped with USB charging points, a multimedia unit, double-glazed side windows and various other amenities.
CT4N takes delivery of two Yutong E10s via Mistral
Finance provider Mistral Bus and Coach has announced delivery of two Yutong E10 electric buses to CT4N.
The vehicles, sourced by Pelican Bus and Coach, will be used by the Nottingham-based charitable trust on its SEGRO East Midlands Gateway shuttle service.
The service operates for employees across the 700-acre development every 10 minutes between 0500hrs and 2300hrs seven days per week.
“It was great to work alongside Yutong and CT4N to deliver these vehicles to the SEGRO East Midlands Gateway. We assisted with a tailored rental and funding package for both vehicles and the infrastructure, utilising all services from Mistral Group,” says Amy Duckworth, Group Customer Engagement Manager, Mistral Bus and Coach.
Nigel Eggleton, Managing Director of CT4N adds: “Our continued partnership with SEGRO grows from strength to strength.
"Not only have we taken delivery of two new Yutong Buses supplied via Pelican and Mistral, but we have also extended our working relationship with SEGRO for the next five years, which was a key factor in our commitment to these new buses for the Gateway Shuttle service.”
According to CT4N, the Yutong E10s offer rapid charging capabilities, regenerative braking technology, improved mileage range, wooden-effect flooring, double-glazed windows, extra leg room between the seats, mobile phone charge sockets and moquette seating which incorporates the SEGRO corporate branding.
Ian Downie, Head of Yutong UK, says: “In August last year we successfully bid for this vehicle supply contract. To have delivered such a customer centric vehicle in less than 7 months is a testament to the collaborative working between CT4N, Pelican, Mistral and all our UK suppliers.
The attention to detail included a new bespoke seat moquette that accentuates the warm, clean lines within the vehicle interior.”
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Stagecoach is first to take next-gen Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV
Alexander Dennis has delivered the first example of its in-house battery-electric bus range to a UK customer with the arrival of an Enviro400EV with Stagecoach in Oxfordshire.
The bus is the first of 55 for the operator that are part-funded by a successful bid by Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) to the first round of the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme. It carries a new green and blue-based livery with Electro branding.
All of the buses will be used on urban services in Oxford as part of work to fully electrify local bus routes operated in the city’s Smart Zone. That work is a partnership with OCC and Go-Ahead Group subsidiary Oxford Bus Company.
Service entry of the Enviro400EV fleet will come later in the spring when infrastructure installation is complete, although driver training on the type will begin shortly. Each bus will be 11.1m long and 4.2m high, and seat 69 passengers with an overall capacity of 83.
Two wheelchair user spaces will be provided along with high-backed seats including USB-A and USB-C charging points. With 472kWh of energy storage, the Enviro400EV was recently certified by Zemo Partnership as the most energy efficient battery-electric double-decker on the market.
Speaking about arrival of the first bus, Stagecoach Chief Operating Officer Sam Greer says: “With a network that spans the UK, the incorporation of the new Enviro400EVs into our fleet in Oxfordshire reaffirms our commitment to our customers’ experience.
“Being the first operator to receive these next-generation buses brings us a step closer to realising our goal of being fully net-zero and we will continue to build on our work to tackle climate change and become more energy efficient.”
Adds Alexander Dennis President and Managing Director Paul Davies: “The delivery of our first next-generation electric bus in the UK is a milestone in the rollout of our new product range, and we are delighted to be marking this moment with our launch customer Stagecoach.
“These buses will be driving value through efficiency with class-leading energy consumption as well as through their futureproof battery system, which is designed to last a 20-year life of a double-deck bus in provincial operation with just one change of batteries.
“We are grateful for Stagecoach’s trust in us and for its support as we continue to develop our range of next-generation zero-emission vehicles.”
Alexander Dennis has already supplied the next-generation Enviro500EV in Hong Kong, while UK orders are in hand for its small Enviro100EV single-decker. A larger Enviro200EV single-deck will follow later, the manufacturer previously confirmed.
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