The Alexander Dennis Enviro100AEV autonomous electric bus was presented to the public at Cenex Expo, held on 3–4 September at Millbrook Proving Ground.
The event is recognised as a key platform in the UK for connected and automated mobility technologies.
The Enviro100AEV is one of two vehicles that will be deployed in the Connector project, led by the Greater Cambridge Partnership. The project will trial services linking Trumpington park and ride and Babraham Road park and ride with the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, with passenger operations expected to begin later this year.
Dan Clarke, Head of Innovation and Technology at the Greater Cambridge Partnership, said:The arrival of the Enviro100AEVs in Cambridge marks another step forward in understanding how autonomous technology can support the future of public transport. With Connector, we’re testing how automation can make services more reliable, efficient and accessible, while gathering the evidence we need on how people feel about using self-driving buses. This is about building knowledge and confidence in the technology so that, in time, it can play a role in delivering a more sustainable and inclusive transport network for Cambridge and beyond.
Based on the manufacturer’s 8.5-metre Enviro100EV, the Enviro100AEV combines battery-electric propulsion with an autonomous driving system. It has capacity for up to 26 seated passengers and uses the Voith Electrical Drive System supported by 354kWh batteries.
The manually driven Enviro100EV variant has been certified for a range of up to 573km in standard testing, and the automated version is expected to achieve efficiency gains through the use of Fusion Processing’s CAVStar® technology.
Jamie Wilson, Head of Concepts and Advanced Engineering at Alexander Dennis said:We’re delighted to present our autonomous electric bus to the connected automated mobility world at Cenex Expo, showing the UK’s leading role in developing autonomous bus technology for real-world applications. Passengers will soon be able to experience our Enviro100AEV in action when it starts public service trials in the Connector project.
Connector forms part of the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles’ (CCAV) CAM Pathfinder Programme, supported by the UK Government through the Department for Business and Trade, the Department for Transport, Innovate UK and Zenzic.
Additional funding has recently been awarded to extend the project until at least March 2026. This will allow further testing on guided busways, as well as an accessibility and inclusivity study to examine how automated bus services can meet the needs of all users, including those with protected characteristics.
Mark Cracknell, Programme Director at Zenzic said:The deployment of Connected and Automated Mobility solutions holds incredible promise – enhancing accessibility, reducing emissions, and fostering a transport network that is both reliable and inclusive. The Connector project will serve as a pivotal example in showcasing those benefits.
We are looking forward to working with the project consortia as they further develop their business case, demonstrate the commercial readiness of the Enviro100AEV, and provide vital insight into the opportunities presented by the deployment of CAM solutions across the UK and beyond.
