Stagecoach has received the first vehicle in a delivery of 55 next-generation battery-electric double-decker Alexander Dennis buses for its operations in Oxford.
The zero-emission Enviro400EVs, which are 11.1m long and 4.2m high, will enter service on Oxford city services in the coming months.
This will enable the full electrification of local routes in the Oxford Smart Zone – a joint initiative between Stagecoach and partners Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford Bus Company, supported by UK Government funding.
They have capacity for 83 passengers, including 69 on comfortable high-backed seats with USB-A and USB-C charging ports. Two wheelchair spaces are provided.
While installation of charging infrastructure continues at Stagecoach’s new Network Oxford site, driver training will begin shortly ahead of a launch into service later this spring.
The Enviro400EV has recently been confirmed to have a theoretical energy consumption of 0.67kWh/km over the Zemo Partnership’s UK Bus Cycle.
Alexander Dennis’s engineers have achieved this benchmark result by combining the heavy-duty version of the Voith Electrical Drive System with a future-proof battery system from Impact Clean Power Technology storing 472kWh of energy.
Paul Davies, President & Managing Director for Alexander Dennis, said, “The delivery of our first next-generation electric bus in the United Kingdom is a milestone in the roll-out of our new product range and we’re delighted to be marking this moment with our launch customer Stagecoach.
“These buses will be driving value through efficiency with class-leading energy consumption as well as through their future-proof battery system which is designed to last a 20-year life of a double deck bus in provincial operation with just one change of batteries.”
