Alexander Dennis has introduced new themed liveries for three of its next-generation electric bus demonstrators, using the idea of ‘tea and toast’ to highlight both British cultural references and the energy capacity of the vehicles’ batteries.
The initiative covers one Enviro400EV double-deck bus and two Enviro100EV midibuses. These vehicle types are common choices for UK bus fleets. The liveries highlight Alexander Dennis’ role as one of only two British bus manufacturers.
The Enviro400EV carries 472kWh of battery capacity. According to the manufacturer, this represents enough stored energy to brew more than 20,000 cups of tea. The livery uses images of different types of tea to illustrate the calculation across the sides of the vehicle.
For the Enviro100EV, Alexander Dennis has translated its 354kWh battery capacity into the equivalent energy needed to toast more than 14,000 slices of bread. The midibus has been wrapped in imagery of toast and jam to match the theme.
The Enviro100EV accommodates up to 26 seats within an 8.5-metre length and is supplied with battery capacity that the company states is higher than many vehicles of a similar size.
Both the Enviro100EV and Enviro400EV form part of Alexander Dennis’s wider family of next-generation electric buses, designed in the UK and drawing on the firm’s long involvement in supplying vehicles tailored to British operational requirements.
Debbie McCreath, External Affairs and Marketing Director at Alexander Dennis said:For many Britons, Alexander Dennis buses are as essential to powering their day as the tea and toast they had for their breakfast. With our next-generation electric buses designed in the UK for the requirements of bus operation in the UK, we are proud to celebrate the wider culture of which they are a part.
By showing just how many cups of tea and slices of toast these buses’ batteries could provide, we hope to inspire onlookers with the message that this powerful new generation of electric buses is essential to daily life – and quintessentially British.
The buses will be used as demonstrators for operators considering future fleet investment. The themed liveries are expected to support public engagement and provide a light-hearted way of presenting technical information about energy capacity and electric operation.
