Alexander Dennis has celebrated the presentation of a fleet of 13 next-generation Enviro200EV single-deckers to passengers in Surrey.
Presented by Falcon Buses; the electric buses were launched during a stakeholder event at the Brooklands Museum in Weybridge.
The new electric buses are set to enter operation on route 436 from Weybridge to Woking, as well as route 461 between Kingston, Weybridge, Addlestone and St Peter’s Hospital.
Purchase of the 13 Enviro200EV buses has been supported by the UK Government following a successful bid for funding by Surrey County Council in partnership with Falcon Buses.
With this development, Falcon buses, a member of the Association of Local Bus Managers (ALBUM), becomes the first independent operator to put the Alexander Dennis’ latest zero-emission into service.
Each of the new buses measures in at 10.9 metres in length, and can carry up to 37 seated passengers with two wheelchair and buggy spaces available to ease access for those with reduced mobility and/or travelling with pushchairs.
All bus interiors make use of part-leather seats, USB charging points at every seat, wood-effect flooring and colour-coordinated handrails, as well as full air-conditioning facilities for both drivers and passengers.
Falcon Buses Managing Director, Richard Telling, said:We chose the next-generation Enviro200EV for our first electric buses after attending Alexander Dennis’s track days event at Millbrook. We were looking at our initial steps for going zero-emission with support of Surrey County Council at the time, and I just loved the product, especially the futuristic looks and the new styling.
Our relationship with Alexander Dennis is really good, underpinned by our existing fleet of 58 Enviro200 low-emission buses, and we look forward to continuing that with our electric buses. Our Enviro200EV give us a comfortable, quiet ride that is enhanced by amazing air-conditioning. These buses are going to be very popular with our drivers as well as our passengers.
Charging infrastructure at Falcon Buses’ depot in West Byfleet has been delivered by VEV, with provisions including a dedicated 1,500kVA power supply together with six 60kW chargers and three 120kW chargers. A second phase of infrastructure is already planned to ensure the depot is ready to support Falcon’s long-term electrification plans.
