Stagecoach has placed the first order for Alexander Dennis Limited’s (ADL) next-generation battery-electric buses, purchasing 55 Enviro400EV double deckers for use in Oxfordshire, UK.
The operator is currently working with Oxfordshire County Council to decarbonise its fleet. This transition is supported by funding from the UK Department for Transport as part of the Zero-Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme.
With this order, Stagecoach has become the first company to purchase ADL’s new battery-electric double decker Enviro400EVs model. It will introduce the new vehicles from late 2023.
Sam Greer, Engineering Director for Stagecoach, said:We’re pleased to be continuing our commitment to move to a zero-emission UK bus fleet by becoming the first operator to make major investment in the new fleet of Enviro400EV buses to operate on our services in Oxford.
We have a positive track record of working with Alexander Dennis to decarbonise our fleet across the country, including in Scotland where we will shortly be introducing the UK’s first all-electric bus cities. We look forward to working with Alexander Dennis and our partners in Oxfordshire to roll out these new electric buses as part of the important plans to improve air quality in the region.
The Enviro400EV has an operational range of up to 260 miles on a single charge and has been designed to move large numbers of people on busy urban routes.
It uses a Voith electrical drive system alongside an Alexander Dennis battery system.
Paul Davies, Alexander Dennis President & Managing Director, said:Our new Enviro400EV has been uncompromisingly designed to meet the requirements of bus operation in the UK, introducing latest advances in technology including our future-proof battery system while guaranteeing first-class aftermarket support throughout the vehicle’s life with AD24.
We are delighted to have our long-standing partner Stagecoach as the launch customer for the next generation of battery-electric buses, partnering with us to lead the future success of our bus and coach industry. This investment keeps funding from the Government’s ZEBRA scheme in the country, improving the lives of passengers and residents as well as accelerating decarbonisation.
