Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation is operating the first nine of 35 Alexander Dennis Enviro500EV double-decker buses, each fitted with the Voith Electrical Drive System (VEDS).
The delivery forms part of a wider programme to introduce battery-electric buses to MTR’s operations, which provide feeder services to the city’s Mass Transit Railway in the northwest New Territories. The company operates more than 170 buses, carrying around 160,000 passengers daily.
Hong Kong’s transport network is characterised by steep gradients and varied terrain. The supplied vehicles use the heavy-duty version of VEDS, which has a peak output of 410 kW and continuous output of 310 kW, to meet these operating conditions.
The region’s high humidity and summer temperatures exceeding 33°C, combined with dense urban traffic and frequent stops, place further demands on vehicle performance. VEDS incorporates energy management features intended to maintain efficiency under such conditions.
Each 12-metre Enviro500EV has three axles and can carry up to 86 passengers, including a dedicated wheelchair space. The buses are equipped with 472 kWh of onboard battery capacity, designed to provide range within Hong Kong’s urban network and to be upgradeable in future.
The vehicles were delivered to Hong Kong earlier this year. The remaining 26 vehicles are scheduled for delivery in the coming months.
