May 2021
Issue 426
driving towards a greener future
Challenges and opportunities of EVs
inside this issue 4
Bus and Coach Professional is published by Plum Publishing Ltd
Editorial
Volvo’s insight on preparing for city bus electrification
Steve Rooney steve.rooney@busandcoach.com
Contact address: Bus and Coach Professional Plum Publishing Ltd, Unit 4 Marshbrook Business Park Church Stretton SY6 6QE Telephone: 01694 731510 www.busandcoach.com
Every care is taken over the accuracy of material in Bus and Coach Professional but the publishers cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions.
10 Glasgow operators form alliance to promote growth
Views and opinions of contributors to Bus and Coach Professional are not necessarily those of the publishers who cannot accept responsibility for such contributions.
22 Zenobe partners with McGill’s for EV deployment
© Plum Publishing Limited 2021
May 2021
Issue 426
driving towards a greener future
Challenges and opportunities of EVs
29 Pelican invests in new plant for Yutong final assembly
May 2021
3
Analysis: Volvo - electrification of buses
Understanding the challenges and opportunity of EV roll-out Volvo latest insight paper assesses the vision, investment and know-how needed to make large-scale electrification of city buses a reality.
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hen is the right time for a city to make the transition to an electric bus system? The answer to that question is really yesterday, according to Volvo Bus head of public affairs Lars Johansson in the manufacturer’s latest Mobility Insight published last month. In a timely reminder as the world prepares for COP26 in Glasgow this November, Johansson points out that in order to meet the Paris Agreement’s climate goals of completely fossil-free transport by 2050 to slow down global warming, there is a need for urgent action. He points out that some world regions have clear goals established, but there are wide variations in the commitments being made, including the willingness of governments to help underpin the investment needed in new vehicle technologies and infrastructure. For example, in December 2020, EU countries
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agreed on a new climate goal for a 55 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, whereas China already boasts around 90 per cent of all electric buses in the world in operation, largely due to large subsidies for manufacturers and operators in recent years. Johanssen adds that in the US and Canada, there is usually a very high portion of federal funding for the purchase of new buses, but in Europe, there remains a traditional tender-based approach with little state support for the purchase of electrified buses. “Despite this, many cities have taken important steps towards electrification, and the EU’s Clean Vehicle Directive will accelerate the transition,” says Johansson. “Recently, the same electromobility trend can be observed in Latin America, mainly in progressive cities like Santiago in Chile and Bogotá in Colombia.” But Johansson points out that operating life of vehicles is a key factor for the transport sector. “There is a long lag because the buses purchased today will normally run for around ten years. This means that if you do not quickly phase out buses that run on fossil fuels, it will take a long time before CO2 emissions can be reduced.” The EU Commission’s Clean Vehicle Directive will take effect in 2021 and will affect all procurements that include city buses. For all EU countries, this means that a certain proportion of buses procured must meet the definition of a ‘clean vehicle’, according to a set quota per member country. In Sweden, for example, 45 per cent of all buses purchased before 2025 must be zero emission or low emission, of which at least half must be zero emission buses. The proportion differs among the member countries, but for most the quota will be the same as Sweden, according to Johansson. The levels will then be raised to 65 per cent from 2026 until 2030. Beyond that, no decision May 2021
has been made. In terms of the timescale for large-scale implementation of EV buses, Johansson asserts that it can take at least 18 months from the start of the process to when buses can be put into service. He points out that one of the biggest differences between the procurement of electric buses and conventional buses is that there are many more stakeholders involved. In addition to the public transport authority, the bus operator and the manufacturers of the buses and charging infrastructure, the city municipality, electricity providers and other relevant stakeholders, must also be involved at an early stage. “Careful planning and close cooperation between the various stakeholders are prerequisites for being able to take the step to large-scale implementation,” says Johannson. One example that he points to of a successful collaborative project is ElectriCity in Gothenburg where the city’s first electric buses were put into service as early as 2015 and the project has attracted tens of thousands of visitors from all over the world. The municipality, the PTA, Västtrafik, local energy supplier Göteborg Energi, bus operator Keolis, Chalmers University of Technology, Volvo Buses and other stakeholders have all been involved in running the project. With the experiences and lessons learned from ElectriCity, Gothenburg has now taken the step towards large-scale implementation, and in December 2020, 145 Volvo 7900 Electric Articulated buses were put into service. The goal for the region is to electrify all its city bus traffic by 2030. May 2021
Securing enough energy capacity is crucial when implementing electric buses. Volvo estimates that over a period of 12 years, the total energy usage for 100 electric buses (12m models) is 97,200MWh. This is equivalent to powering 400 private houses during the same period. The need for common industry standards with open interfaces for charging infrastructure is also important for the large-scale roll-out of EVs. Johansson argues that all buses, regardless of brand, must be able to use the same charging stations. International bodies have been working on this topic for many years, and in Europe the bus industry has agreed on standards that should apply. UITP was commissioned by Cenelec (European Committee of Electrotechnical Standardization) to submit a proposal to the EU Commission. This was presented in 2019 with four standards proposed: depot charging via CCS cable, opportunity charging via roof-mounted pantograph, opportunity charging via station-mounted pantograph and charging via an electric contact on the road, which is likely to be used only in rare cases. Finalisation of the various standards will be decided in late 2021 and the EU Commission is expected to publish the final charging standards at the end of the year. Electrified public transport offers a wide range of benefits to society in reducing environmental impact, primarily in terms of the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, nitrogen oxides, particles and noise. “Electrified public transport is hugely beneficial, primarily in terms of the reduction of greenhouse gas
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Analysis: Volvo - electrification of buses
emissions, nitrogen oxides, particles and noise,” says Johansson. In Gothenburg, for example, by replacing the cleanest diesel buses on the market with 145 new Volvo 7900 Electric Articulated buses, the city says it will reduce its CO2 emissions by 14,500 tonnes per year. This is about the same as the CO2 from around 5,000 cars. Simultaneously, emissions of nitrogen oxides will decrease by approximately 8,000kg per year and emissions of soot and other hazardous particles will be reduced by 200kg. Noise reduction is an added benefit of electric buses with estimates of each bus’ noise level being reduced by 7dB, halving its perceived noise emissions compared with a conventional bus. An electric bus also consumes 80 per cent less energy than a diesel bus. The energy savings for the fleet of 145 Volvo 7900 Electric Articulated, which drive a total of 60,000km per year at an average speed of 18km/h, is estimated at 32,200MWh per year; the annual energy requirement for 1,600 private households. The paper also addresses the question of how clean the electricity to power EVs is from a CO2 point of view. Depending on whether the electricity is produced from renewable or fossil sources, the carbon
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footprint – from well to tank – can vary from as little as 10g to more than 1,000g of CO2 per kWh. “Even though many countries globally still produce a relatively high proportion of their electricity from fossil sources, a positive trend is observed,” says Johansson. “A very large proportion of new European energy plants will produce renewable energy. This is also the case for certain countries outside Europe.” Johansson concludes with identifying the most important success factors for the implementation of electric buses. The first priority is political will which is where it all begins, he says: “Making the transition to an electric bus system requires political will, vision and a political decision. It also requires a long-term system approach and knowledge of what electrification actually means, its effects, and the opportunities it creates.” And finally there is a need for a comprehensive analysis of the complete requirements including route distances, topography, climate, passenger numbers, traffic density, bus types and battery capacity, all of which affect the most optimal charging infrastructure. Volvo's Mobility Insights paper is available here www.volvobuses.com May 2021
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Volvo Bus virtual launch of Volvo 9700 for the UK and Irish market
VOLVO has officially launched its 9700 fully integral coach to the UK and Irish markets. In a sign of the continuing restrictions, it used a video hosted on the company’s official social media channels for the launch. Built on the established B11R driveline, Volvo says the new 9700 blends luxury, performance, practicality and flexibility for any operation. David Porter, Sales Manager for Volvo Bus UK & Ireland, says:
“After a hugely challenging 12 months for the whole industry, we’re delighted to announce some really positive news. The launch of the Volvo 9700 complete coach to the UK and Irish market is an exciting development for customers and Volvo Bus. “Operators will no doubt be familiar with the new Volvo coach family, the 9700 shares many of the futuristic design features incorporated into the 9900 coupled with others, such as PSVAR capability
making it the perfect, versatile addition to our customers fleets. “We know as the industry is getting back on its feet, operators will be reassured by having the support of a manufacturing partner, who understands more than ever the importance of reliable vehicles and quality aftermarket back-up and support.” A range of vehicles is now available for viewing at Volvo’s Coventry sales centre. www.volvobus.com
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Glasgow bus operators join forces to form new alliance to promote growth
LEADING bus operators from across the Glasgow city region have joined forces to create GlasGo, a new bus alliance which says it aims to improve sustainable travel in and out of the city whilst increasing bus patronage by 25 per cent over the next five years. As part of The Glas-Go Bus Alliance, a manifesto has been created with a multi-operator vision and a commitment to delivering and investing in sustainable, reliable and customer focused bus travel. Bus operators involved include Stagecoach, First Bus, JMB Travel, McGill’s, Whitelaws and West Coast Motors, operators of Glasgow Citybus and Glasgow City Sightseeing. All city region bus operators will shortly be invited. In its five year plan the bus operators vow to continue to invest in greener and cleaner vehicles and improve service connections, including seamless travel with other modes of transport.
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The forthcoming launch of free bus travel in Scotland for young people is expected to be a major driving force in encouraging more bus travel amongst younger people. To deliver in areas outside the bus operators’ control, including congestion, road infrastructure, bus priority measures and on street travel information, the alliance aims to work in partnership with the region’s local authorities and SPT through the Glasgow Bus Partnership Steering Group. The Glas-Go Bus Alliance is chaired by Fiona Doherty, managing director, Stagecoach West Scotland, with Andrew Jarvis, managing director, First Glasgow, as vice chair. Fiona Doherty says: “We look forward to working with all of the key stakeholders in the city region as we move to work together to make bus services better for our customers.
“No one organisation has all the solutions, so if buses are truly to be successful and provide what customers need, then they need greater support from stakeholders, particularly with critical matters such as tackling congestion which undermines the delivery of reliable services, results in inefficient running and adds to the cost of travel. “Buses only contribute 4 per cent of all transport related emissions, which means buses are great enablers for green and active travel as well as playing a huge role in the economic and environmental wellbeing of the city region, both of which, will be critical as we continue our recovery out of the global pandemic. “If the city is to deliver its green ambitions, we all have to challenge our travel patterns and having a bus network that everyone wants to use is our ambition.” The Glas-Go Bus Alliance Manifesto is here
May 2021
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CILT report analyses factors affecting local bus patronage THE Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport’s bus & coach policy group has released its latest paper: Factors affecting local bus demand and potential for increase. Co-authored by professor Stuart Cole, emeritus professor of transport (economics and policy), University of South Wales, and Peter White, emeritus professor of public transport systems, University of Westminster, the paper draws on evidence regarding demand factors and seeks to show how bus patronage has declined and how demand can be brought back. Bus ridership in Great Britain has declined in passenger terms in recent years. Between 2004/05 and 2018/19 there were significant passenger number reductions of more
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than 20 per cent in Wales, Scotland and England’s metropolitan areas, while in London and in the English counties passenger numbers had increased. However, variations exist, with southern England cities such as Brighton, Bournemouth and Bristol, and in Scotland, Edinburgh, seeing growth in bus use. In Wales, the TrawsCymru interurban bus network bucked the overall trend with an increase in its passengers from 0.473 million (2007/8) to 2.033 million (2018/19). In England, the bus customer base pre-Covid was comprised of education and commuting trips (42 per cent), followed by shopping (20 per cent) though the latter has been falling for some years, partly,
due to increased out of town centres that are not serviced by bus. Bus demand in Britain has been strongly affected by the pandemic. Service levels are now restored to their March 2020 levels on most routes with government support plugging the financial gap. The authors argue that simpler fares structures may help to attract passengers such as zonal prices or a multi-ride/multi-operator ticket or contactless bank cards. These bring lower operating costs through shorter dwell times at stops. And competition from the car, cycling and walking is critical, especially in terms of overall journey time, particularly where bus priority is limited. The full report is available here
May 2021
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Coachline says online system makes serious accident reporting easier COACH and bus operators involved in serious accidents are being promised an easier way to handle reporting with a new online system, according to Coachline Insurance. Michelle Williams, from Coachline Insurance Services in Stafford, said all companies responsible for running public transport vehicles were required by law to supply information about serious incidents initially to their insurers, and then to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. The government, in collaboration with the sector, has set up a new online form that is available on computer, tablet or smartphone. “This move is great news for the industry as it’s a far simpler way to communicate with the DVSA, and it should encourage more operators to report incidents as soon as possible after they happen,” says Williams. “We are one of only a handful of brokers to specialise in bus, coach
and minibus insurance, and our Coachline team works closely with the industry to ensure our clients receive the very latest advice. “Through the new online reporting service, operators will receive confirmation that their report has been submitted and the DVSA will aim to contact them within two working days. “Operators must remember too that if they fail to inform the DVSA of a serious incident, they could face legal action – and any vehicle involved in an accident should not be used or repaired before their insurer or the DVSA responds to the report.” Under the rules, operators need to report incidents where any vehicle failure or damage may affect the safety of passengers or other road users. “The law requires transport companies to report any incident where there are fatalities, serious injuries or serious damage,” adds Williams. “But other incidents including a
system failure such as brake failure or wheel loss, a fire (including arson attacks) or a suspected serious safety defect must also be logged.” The Coachline Services division is part of Bayliss & Cooke – which has joined forces with the Henshalls Group in Newport to create one of the region’s largest independent insurance brokers – based in Stafford. www.coachline.co.uk
Sustainability award for Volvo 9700 DD A jury of experts has presented the Volvo 9700 DD with the International Sustainability Award, organised by German trade journal Busplaner. The jury based its decision on the model’s aerodynamics concept for reducing fuel consumption and the option of running the vehicle on synthetic fuels or biofuels. “The Volvo 9700 DD has only recently been launched on the European market, and we are very pleased that the experts have focused on both its sustainability May 2021
and productivity benefits since this is good for our customers and society as a whole,” says Niklas Orre, vice president coach sales, Volvo Buses. In a welcoming address at the awards, Andreas Scheuer, German federal minister of transport, said: “Buses are key to sustainable mobility. In many ways, today’s vehicles already meet the mobility requirements of tomorrow.” Volvo Buses received the award in the long-distance bus category. “We are extremely proud that
our new premium model was awarded by the jury,” adds Gerd Schneider, managing director, Volvo Busse Deutschland. “Sustainability is a cornerstone of our corporate philosophy and we take a holistic approach: from reducing our own impact internally, to helping our customers and partners limit their impact through reduced fuel consumption, more efficient operations and making the transition to renewable fuels or electrified solutions.” www.volvobuses.com
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Transdev to acquire Yorkshire Tiger services in Halifax and Huddersfield
TR A NSDEV has signed an agreement to buy the West Yorkshire-based Yorkshire Tiger bus operations from Arriva UK Bus, with completion expected in the summer and Arriva employees transferring to Transdev as part of the deal. Once the deal is completed, the sale will include Arriva’s two bus depots at Elland, near Halifax and Waterloo in Huddersfield, and 61 buses. Arriva is however retaining its 231 and 232 Huddersfield – Wakefield routes, as part of its Yorkshire
business. Transdev Blazefield CEO Alex Hornby says: “We are thrilled to be growing our team and our company, and are really looking forward to serving this part of West Yorkshire for the first time. This demonstrates Transdev’s long-term commitment to develop our business here in the north of England, building on a clear track record of success. “We’re looking forward to meeting all our new colleagues and new customers, as well as strengthening relationships with our local
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authority partners further. This presents a hugely exciting opportunity to all work together and improve the quality of bus travel further across Halifax and Huddersfield.” Arriva area managing director Patrick Sibley adds: “Although we will be sad to hand over operations of our Tiger business, we are delighted that it will be in the hands of Transdev, a well-known local bus company, who will take good care of the depots, customers and all employees.” www.transdevplc.co.uk
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Transdev orders Mellor Strata Ultras for East Lancashire routes
TRANSDEV is investing £2.4million in a new fleet of 23 Strata Ultra buses from manufacturer Mellor as it prepares to launch a new network of routes across East Lancashire. Transdev says the order for new buses with Rochdale-based Mellor will create 50 new jobs when 18 of the new buses are in service on a new Ribble Countrybranded bus network in Burnley, Pendle and the Ribble Valley. The Ribble Country name echoes the former Ribble Motor Services company, whose red buses once served the north west from Liverpool to Carlisle. The remaining five new buses are being used on another new Transdev service between Preston, Higher Walton, Bamber Bridge and Leyland, also to be operated May 2021
in partnership with Lancashire county council. Transdev says it has chosen Mellor’s Strata Ultra bus as it offers a fully-accessible vehicle which can comfortably carry 30 customers in levels of comfort which match a full-size bus, yet can also navigate rural routes and busy town streets with ease. Transdev CEO Alex Hornby says: “As part of our new multiyear partnership with Lancashire County Council, we are thrilled to unveil the Ribble Country brand in tribute to the transport heritage of the area we are so proud to serve. A new look and expanded network needs the right bus for the job – and we’re delighted to have chosen Mellor, a proudly local North West company, with our
order for its class-leading Strata Ultra product which offers us the quality, reliability and flexible performance we need.” Mellor bus division managing director Mark Clissett adds: “This is a significant fleet delivery for us and an important new service for the people of east Lancashire. “Our Strata Ultra bus offers the ideal solution for regional transport operations where larger buses are simply not viable. Transdev’s new Mellor f leet will provide essential public transport across dozens of local towns and villages, linking communities and performing a vital daily service for thousands of people, while still delivering consistent productivity for Transdev.” www.transdevbus.co.uk/burnley
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news
Euro Bus Expo postponed until 2022 EURO Bus Expo organiser Diversified Communications UK has postponed the event for a further 12 months until next November. Diversified says the decision to reschedule Euro Bus Expo follows consultation with its show partner, exhibitors, and visitors. The show will now take place on 1-3 November 2022 at the NEC Birmingham. Event director Helen Conway says: “The decision to postpone was particularly difficult given the show of support from visitors, exhibitors and partners. Over 90 per cent of exhibitors and visitors rated Euro Bus Expo as being
important to their business in a survey completed over the last two weeks. This confidence in our events and their standing within the industry places emphasis on the importance of meeting our stakeholders’ expectations.” Feedback from the industry, however, recommended that the event should be postponed for another year to give time to focus on recovery and recognising the fact that new vehicle orders may not rebound quickly. On behalf of the show partner CPT, Graham Vidler, CEO, adds: “Euro Bus Expo is the premier
trade event that offers a great opportunity to bring the industry together. However, with the pandemic continuing to affect the coach and bus sector, we fully support our partners at Diversified Communications UK in having to make this difficult but most sensible decision to postpone the event until November 2022. “We look forward to coming together again in brighter times. In the meantime, we will continue to work with operators and suppliers as we collectively navigate the challenges ahead.” www.eurobusxpo.com
... while ITT Hub prepares to open the doors at Farnborough at end of June WHILE Euro Bus Expo has been postponed, ITT Hub plans to proceed with its inaugural event this summer. Innovation and Technology in Transport - ITT Hub, which was itself postponed previously, aims to support the shift to net zero for passenger and commercial fleets, and will also be one of the UK’s first major business events to take place in more than a year, and the first for the road transport sector. Running from 30 June to 1 July at the Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre, ITT Hub represents a return to live events, with more than 130 exhibitors. Mark Griffin, CEO, Binswood Media, says: “We’re seeing momentum growing as confidence levels rise. Those I have spoken to express a very clear appetite for getting back to meeting face to face, having conversations in per-
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son – not through a screen, and witnessing some very exciting innovation. “ITT Hub comes at a crucial time for industry with the objective of shifting to net zero becoming a reality. Now is the time for the road transport sector to seize the opportunity to re-engage through collaboration and support the government’s policies of “build back better” and “build back greener”. We are thrilled at the prospect of opening the doors this summer to
a brand-new event for our sector.” Vehicle demonstrations of vans, buses, trucks, trailers and coaches will take place over a three-mile private road network. ITT Hub 2021 will also host the Future Logistics Conference organised by Logistics UK, featuring high profile industry speakers and thought leaders. British astronaut Major Tim Peake CMG will be making the keynote address on the opening day of the show. www.itthub.co.uk
May 2021
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CPT Cymru calls on next Welsh Government to build better bus network AHEAD of the 2021 Senedd elections, CPT Wales called on Wales’ prospective politicians to invest in Wales’ bus network to help drive a step change in public transport. CPT argues that the bus network has played a vital role throughout the pandemic helping those that need to travel to do so. As restrictions ease, there is an opportunity to build a reinvigorated bus network and tackle some of the major challenges facing Wales including congestion, air quality, decarbonisation, social and economic inequality and car dependency as well as rebuilding the economy from the impacts of the pandemic. The industry’s agenda for the next Welsh Parliament calls for: •A National Bus Strategy for Wales that achieves modal shift with bus passenger growth by working in partnership with oper-
ators and providing the environment for business confidence for investment in low and zero emission vehicles. •A Welsh Green Bus Fund that would decarbonise the bus fleet by helping operators overcome the significant financial challenges of adopting zero emission vehicles. •Bus first investments in Wales’ towns and cities by setting out plans for large scale rollout of bus priority measures such as bus lanes and bus priority traffic signals across Wales. CPT Cymru Director Joshua Miles says: “As restrictions ease, we need the next Welsh Government to provide a clear signal to the people of Wales that people should be getting back on board the bus by making a clear commitment to build a better bus network for Wales.
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Factors affecting local bus demand and potential for increase STUART COLE & PETER WHITE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH WALES AND UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER
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“There is a real opportunity to drive a generational change in our bus network as we face significant challenges such as worsening air quality and congestion alongside the need to reduce carbon emissions all caused by car dependency.” A Better Bus Network for Wales: An Agenda for the next Welsh Parliament is available here
Ventac offers specialist expertise for bus and coach noise control systems VENTAC is deploying its technical knowledge and acoustic expertise to work in partnership with bus and coach sector clients to quickly identify and solve their noise control problems and provide effective solutions. The company has become an established name in the supply of innovative and high-performance noise control solutions to the global bus and coach industry. A spokesperson for Ventac says: “The commercial vehicle industry is a challenging and ever-changing environment. Our process allows us to supply fast and effective solu-
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tions that address the needs and demands of our customers and their markets. “Ventac works with the world’s leading industrial and specialist vehicle OEMs to develop and engineer a full range of noise control solutions. Our expertise and technical knowledge allows us to supply fast and effective noise control solutions that guarantee a high-performance result.” In addition to the bus and coach industry, Ventac supplies finished components and assembly-ready noise control kits to a wide range of markets including the heavy-
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OUR PICK OF THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BUS AND COACH SECTOR
Zenobe Energy partners with McGill’s on electric bus deployment
ZENOBE has partnered with Scottish bus operator McGill’s, to build three fully electric depots in Johnstone, Inchinnan and Dundee, to support the company’s move to electric transport. McGill’s recently announced a £32.5million investment in 68 electric vehicles, partly funded by the Scottish Government’s Scottish Ultra Low Emissions Bus Scheme (SULEB), and all of which are due to arrive before the end of the year. The investment in electric charging infrastructure at the three depots will go live ahead of COP26, which will be held in Glasgow, and the new fleets
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will service the event, showcasing Scotland’s investment in sustainable transport. Zenobe Energy is project managing the infrastructure and implementing an end-to-end software solution to manage both the vehicles and the fleet charging, as well as the resulting power requirements. Steven Meersman, co-founder of Zenobe Energy, says: “We are thrilled to be working with McGill’s, a home-grown company just like Zenobe, embracing EV bus transition with an ambitious strategy to develop three depots. “This exciting project will help to boost accessibility to sustainable
travel in Scotland and support the UK’s drive towards net zero. “The three depots are a glowing example of what’s possible when private organisations and the government work together towards a common goal, and what British companies can achieve together.” Ralph Roberts, CEO McGill’s Buses, adds: “This is another industry-leading step towards decarbonising our business. We are delighted to be working with Zenobe on these projects and their track record of quality and delivery is what attracted us.” www.zenobe.co.uk www.mcgillsbuses.co.uk
May 2021
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OUR PICK OF THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BUS AND COACH SECTOR
ADL to build two EVs for Transdev Howick & Eastern in New Zealand
ALEXANDER Dennis will build two electric buses for Transdev Australasia’s Howick & Eastern operation in New Zealand. The buses will be used on Auckland Transport services. A DL ha s desig ned t he 12.6m-long BYD ADL Enviro200EV XLBs for the specific requirements of bus operation in New Zealand, and they will be assembled locally in New Zealand by ADL partner Kiwi Bus Builders. The vehicles achieve a capacity of 78 passengers without requiring an overweight permit. The electric buses have dual AC and DC plug charging to add operational flexibility. New Zealand is planning to fully transition its bus fleet to zero emission vehicles by 2035 as part of measures intended to
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help meet the country’s 2050 carbon neutral target. Howick & Eastern by Transdev general manager, Sheryll Otway, says: “The future for zero-emission transport in New Zealand is exciting and Howick & Eastern by Transdev is proud to be an ongoing part of this incredible journey, with the commissioning of these buses. “None of this would be possible without the support, vision and investment of Auckland Transport. “We are certainly looking forward to working together over the coming years as we work together on providing zero-emissions public transport to the people of Tāmaki Makaurau.” Transdev New Zealand managing director, Greg Pollock, adds: “Howick & Eastern by Transdev
opted to commission ADL to build our second and third electric buses because the company’s factory is in New Zealand. This was a logical decision for us to make, given Transdev’s commitment to New Zealand, and to expanding our operations here, where we already operate metro rail and bus services in both Auckland and Wellington, as well as a transport on demand trial in Auckland.” Richard Drummond, managing director, Kiwi Bus Builders, says: “Howick & Eastern’s order underlines our plans to support up to 100 local jobs with the assembly of electric buses in partnership with ADL, as we scale-up our production to meet demand from Auckland Transport and elsewhere in New Zealand.” www.alexander-dennis.com
May 2021
green Wrightbus hydrogen buses complete first 100K in Aberdeen WRIGHTBUS hydrogen doubledeck buses, operated by First Aberdeen, have completed their first 100,000 miles of operation and saved 170,000kg of CO2 – the equivalent of taking 42 cars off the road for a year. Aberdeen city council coleader, Douglas Lumsden, says: “Transforming the city’s carbon footprint on a large scale is no easy feat, but we’re committed to making continuous progress and are proud to be leading the way in the transport industry with First Aberdeen to bring our joint vision of low emission public transport to life.” The 15 hydrogen buses are now in service across the city with the majority of them predominantly operating on the Service 19 route in Aberdeen. Ian Gillott, Wrightbus group director, adds: “To reach 100,000 miles is a significant milestone. It is a credit to Aberdeen city council and to FirstBus that they have embraced this new technology so readily, putting Aberdeen firmly and historically on the zero emissions map.”
To support the fleet, Wrightbus has a support team of hydrogen specialists in Aberdeen as well as a technical back-up team on 24-hour call. Michelle Thomson, hydrogen bus driver at First Aberdeen, says: “Drivers and the public absolutely
love the new hydrogen buses sailing smoothly and silently through the city’s streets.” Aberdeen makes its own hydrogen to power the buses, making it a greener energy source for the local community. www.firstgroup.com/aberdeen
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OUR PICK OF THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BUS AND COACH SECTOR
Allison eGen Flex hybrid solution in service in New York ALLISON Transmission’s eGen Flex electric hybrid propulsion solution is being put into service at New York City Transit this month (May). The electric hybrid system from Allison offers fully electric propulsion for up to 10 miles, depending on duty cycle and accessory load demands. This option will be set automatically through geofencing technology for zero emission zones and passenger depots for a quieter and cleaner environment. Allison says its eGen Flex system is capable of improving fuel economy by up to 25 per cent compared to a conventional diesel bus and has the ability to operate accessories such as air -conditioning and electric heat at optimal efficiency. Moving these accessories to electric power reduces the strain on the engine, reducing fuel consumption and maintenance costs over the vehicle’s lifetime.
“Our electric hybrid systems continue to demonstrate bottomline operating benefits for municipalities and fleets while delivering industry-leading performance, reliability and durability,” says Rohan Barua, vice president of sales, North America, Allison Transmission. “There are currently 2,500 NYCT buses equipped with Allison transmissions and electric hybrid propulsion solutions, and we look forward to continuing our
longstanding relationship with the authority as it transitions to our latest technology that will reduce emissions, increase fuel economy and improve the overall ease of rideability and quality of life for passengers.” As the largest public transportation agency in North America, the New York City Transit authority currently operates more than 5,700 buses. www.allisontransmission.com/evsolutions/egen-flex
ADL joins line-up for ITT Hub A L E X A N DER Dennis has joined the list of exhibitors at the forthcoming ITT Hub which takes place at Farnborough from 30 June to 1 July. ADL becomes the latest vehicle manufacturer to sign up, alongside Ford, reflecting the multi-modal nature of the event. Other bus and coach exhibitors lined up for the Farnborough show include BYD, Caetano Bus, Mercedes-Benz Bus and Coach, Pelican Bus and Coach
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and Wrightbus. Martin Brailey, Alexander Dennis sales director - UK and Ireland, says: “As Britain’s biggest bus and coach builder, we are pleased to be taking part in ITT Hub and looking forward to meeting customers and industry colleagues. “ADL is well-placed to support the bus industry with the widest range of low, ultra-low and zero emissions vehicles, some of which will be on show at Farnborough.” Mark Griffin, of organiser
Binswood Media, adds: “We are delighted to have secured a very prestigious line-up of exhibitors for ITT Hub, made up of companies large and small from across the commercial road transport industry. “Many of our exhibitors have been looking forward to this event for more than two years and since Easter we’ve seen an uplift in confidence, with space selling quickly.” itthub.co.uk
May 2021
green Cardiff Bus orders 36 Yutong EVs CARDIFF Bus has placed an order for 36 Yutong E12 zeroemission buses, claimed to be the biggest single order placed outside of London to date. The electric buses will be on the roads in the city from the end of 2021 and are designed to lead to a transformation of how Cardiff’s bus network is delivered. The investment is a collaboration between the bus company and its shareholder, Cardiff Council, after a successful bid for funding from the Department for Transport’s Ultra-Low Emissions Bus Scheme. Paul Dyer, managing director,
Cardiff Bus, says: “It’s fantastic news for both the company and the city as whole. This further enshrines the fact that we are the city’s main bus operator, and a real cog in the wheel of city-life. “There is a strong relationship between us and our customers, the residents of Cardiff, and we are recognised as one of the city’s critical assets, which we take extremely seriously in our goal to reach zero emissions. “The city is rightly proud of its bus company, and the continued part it plays in city life. This has been further underscored in the last 12 months during the Coro-
navirus pandemic where we have helped the city keep moving in unprecedented times.” Ian Downie, head of Yutong Bus at Pelican Engineering, adds: “These state-of-the-art, zero-emission vehicles will make a significant impact on transporting the citizens of Cardiff in enhanced comfort whilst improving air quality. “We are looking forward to our partnership with Cardiff Bus to assist in generating a clean and sustainable transport system in Cardiff.”
www.cardiffbus.co.uk www.pelicanyutong.co.uk
First electric vehicle trial for Pakistan BYD and its Pakistani partner have completed a 15-day trial operation of a K9 electric bus in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city. This is the first full-electric bus in Pakistan and the evaluation echoes the local government’s aim to build a 100-strong pureelectric bus fleet within 2021. Home to over 16 million people, Karachi is the coastal capital of Pakistan’s Sindh province and a transportation hub connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe. “We are very excited to welcome Pakistan’s first pure-electric bus,” says Syed Awais Qadir Shah, Sindh transport minister. “The successful trial operation of pure-electric buses in Karachi marks an important step towards electrification. We plan to add 100 pure-electric buses within this year, hoping that our public transportation system will May 2021
be able to popularise pure-electric buses in the future.” Ketsu Zhang, assistant general manager, BYD Asia-Pacific Auto Sales Division, adds: “It’s a great honour to bring BYD’s electric K9 to Karachi, Pakistan for the first trial operation. I believe that Karachi will become a model of Pakistan’s green cities of the future, bringing people a smarter, safer,
and cleaner travel experience.” BYD is supplying vehicles to many other countries across Asia-Pacific, including Japan, Korea, Singapore, Australia and India. Globally, the brand’s pure electric buses and taxis have spread to over 300 cities, operating in more than 50 countries and regions. www.byd.com
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green
OUR PICK OF THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BUS AND COACH SECTOR
Go-Ahead urges car drivers to switch to the bus to save carbon
THE Go-Ahead Group used last month’s Earth Day to issue a plea to motorists to consider a minor change in their travel habits to make a major difference to the planet. In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, Go-Ahead is asking car commuters to consider leaving their vehicles at home just twice a month for the rest of the year and switch their journey to bus, rail or bicycle. The bus and rail group argues that motorists typically make around 600 car journeys annually. Switching just one in every
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25 of these journeys to a bus – equivalent to a couple of trips a month – would reduce the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions by two million tonnes per year. Saving two million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions is equivalent to the environmental gain that would be made by switching all the UK’s buses from diesel to zero emission energy sources, such as electricity or hydrogen. Katy Taylor, Go-Ahead chief strategy and customer officer, says: “Taking public transport is not only the environmental option, it is the best one for our own health
and that of our communities. If everyone switched to the bus a couple of times a month, we could collectively rebuild our communities and enjoy the quieter streets from last April while avoiding a car-based recovery from the pandemic.” Private cars account for 55 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions from transport. Buses and coaches account for around 3 per cent of emissions, and one double-deck bus has the potential to take up to 75 cars off the road. www.go-ahead.com
May 2021
green Pelican invests in new plant for final assembly of Yutong electric buses WITH an increasing demand for UK parts and labour content in Yutong zero emission buses, Pelican Bus & Coach has reached a co-operation agreement with Yutong to be officially recognised as a final assembly plant on behalf of Yutong in the UK. The move to increase local production elements follows the UK government’s commitment to boosting UK manufacturing in its recent National Bus Strategy. Vehicles will be delivered to Pelican for final completion. Items such as driver seats, passenger seats, fire suppression, stanchions, bell pushes, USB chargers, destination equipment’s, wi-fi, radio, CCTV, passenger information systems and any other customer-specific items will now be fitted at Pelican. In addition, vehicle and battery systems are commissioned locally alongside a pre-delivery inspection. Pelican also conducts driver and engineer training at either customer’s premises or at Pelican resulting in local labour being up-skilled with the latest technology. To accommodate the new operation, Pelican has purchased the former Ryder Trucks depot in Castleford and plans to refurbish and extend this property to suit. The 170 employees at Pelican will also be increased to reflect ongoing business growth. Ian Downie, head of Yutong Bus UK, says: “The continued success of the Pelican brand in the UK with Yutong has May 2021
been reflected in this agreement. Increased UK content, with local employment based not only in Castleford but also around the UK, reflects both the demands of our customers and our growing success in zero emission buses and coaches. “It also benefits our coach customers who have been the bedrock of our business and we currently carrying out PVSAR conversions at Castleford. Our vehicles now have a much greater level of UKsourced equipment being fitted in the UK. As more and more zeroemission vehicles enter service, this provides more local employment to our suppliers and also to
civil and electrical contractors as the supporting infrastructure is built and commissioned.” Richard Crump, managing director, Pelican, adds: “Pelican is a UK company with a 102 year history of customer support. Our shareholding is 100 per cent contained in the UK and we are proud to be supplying state-ofthe-art vehicles that allow local communities to benefit from zero emission transport on their streets. The £2million investment in new premises, staff and parts demonstrates our continued commitment to the UK economy and our local area.” www.pelicanyutong.co.uk
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green
OUR PICK OF THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BUS AND COACH SECTOR
Oviedo to run three-month test of a Caetano H2.CityGold
THE city of Oviedo is running a three-month trial of a Caetano hydrogen-powered bus. The Caetano H2.CityGold will be tested in regular passenger traffic on different lines. Oviedo joins other European cities, including Madrid, London, Paris and Dublin, which have also tested
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Caetano hydrogen-powered buses. “It is an honour for Caetano to have its H2.CityGold bus as the first hydrogen-powered bus to be tested in Oviedo,” says Kohei Umeno, chief commercial officer, CaetanoBus. “Our target is to start H2 bus operation from 2022 and we are working together with
municipalities and partners to achieve a zero emission society.” CaetanoBus, part of Toyota Caetano Portugal and Mitsui & Co, is based in Portugal. It is also the manufacturer of COBUS, the market leader in airport bus transportation. www.salvadorcaetano.pt
May 2021
green Switch Mobility links up with Siemens to power roll-out of EVs in India SWITCH Mobility, the UKbased subsidiary of Ashok Leyland, formerly known as Optare Group, is working with Siemens to address the potential of the e-mobility market in India. Switch Mobility and Siemens have entered into a memorandum of understanding towards building a technological partnership in electric commercial mobility. The agreement aims to deliver cost-effective and sustainable e-mobility solutions to commercial vehicle customers in India. To achieve this objective, Switch Mobility will bring its electric
vehicle experience while Siemens will offer its charging infrastructure technology. “Switch Mobility has a strong pedigree in the commercial vehicle market in India and is ideally placed to promote our aspiration of zero carbon emission transportation,” says Dheeraj Hinduja, chairman, Switch Mobility. “With our experience of over 230 electric vehicles already in operation successfully in India and the UK we see immense growth opportunities for Switch’s expansion in India, Europe and many global markets. “Our aspiration is to make
electric products more affordable through this offering, which is also shared by Siemens, renowned for their rich technological pedigree in innovative engineering solutions.” Nitin Seth, director, Switch Mobility, adds: “Our collaboration with Siemens will focus on key identified areas, which will be critical to propel ourselves, as an industry, towards clean and sustainable mobility solutions. Our overarching objective is to achieve the lowest Total Cost of Ownership.” www.siemens.co.in www.switchmobility.tech
CPT argues for focus on modal shift in order to reach net-zero targets RESPONDING to a Government consultation on phasing out new diesel buses, CPT argues that zero emission buses alone cannot deliver net zero emissions and instead, there needs to be a change in people’s travel behaviour so that more people choose to travel by bus. CPT points out that if everyone took one more bus journey a month, there would be a billion fewer car journeys and it would reduce the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions by two million tonnes a year. The trade body adds that the key to encouraging more people to take the bus is to focus on journey time improvements through bus priority measures May 2021
such as bus lanes, traffic signalling and priority at junctions. CPT head of policy Alison Edwards says: “It is vital that government realises that phasing out new diesel buses alone is not enough to reach net zero emissions, and that what we really need is people to change their travel behaviours. If everyone took just six more journeys a year by bus that would have an impact equal to the transition of the entire bus fleet to zero emission. “We need government to focus on putting buses at the heart of transport planning, with priority measures that keep buses out of traffic. This will result in quicker, more reliable journey times that
make bus an appealing travel option.” CPT’s response also claimed that ending the sale of new diesel buses without adequate financial support from government will result in cost increases for operators which risks impacting bus services. “The costs of investing in zero emission buses are significant,” adds Edwards. “Desires to create a zero-emission bus f leet must come with financial support from Government to avoid diverting important investment from improving bus services for passengers as envisaged by the National Bus Strategy.” www.cpt-uk.org
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green
OUR PICK OF THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BUS AND COACH SECTOR
Safra and Symbio commit to 1,500 French-built hydrogen buses
FRENCH bus builder Safra has announced plans to eventually build 1,500 hydrogen buses with its partner Symbio which provides the fuel cell unit. THE Businova hydrogen buses are already operating in cities such as Artois-Gohelle, Versailles and Le Mans, and the two companies have announced plans to build up to 1,500 12m buses with deliveries from December 2021. “Safra is currently the only French manufacturer making hydrogen buses”, says Vincent Lemaire, CEO, Safra. The buses will be equipped with Symbio’s plug-and-play solut ion, which has been designed specifically to meet the
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needs of this market. Symbio’s unit contains a 45kW fuel cell which it claims is ready for mass production and will offer a significant cost advantage. The unit also includes a compressor and power converter that have been preapproved to optimise system performance while their integration is designed to meet the specific needs of these vehicles. Safra has invested to double the size of its manufacturing facility in order to significantly reduce manufacturing time and cost. “We have launched a first phase to accelerate our rate of production, which sees an expansion to our production tooling in terms of materials, technology and human
resources,” adds Lemaire. “This first step will allow us to quickly produce 140 buses per year. The next stage will be even more ambitious, as we plan to invest a total of €100million over 10 years to produce more and faster in order to generate a significant reduction in costs.” Symbio has begun construction of what it claims will be Europe’s largest fuel cell plant in Sain Fons, France, where it will eventually produce 60,000 systems per year. “We have a clear roadmap to accelerate both innovation and production”, says Philippe Rosier, CEO Symbio. www.safra.fr www.symbio.one/en
May 2021