News Viavan and Stagecoach

March 2020 Issue 412 Live

driving towards a greener future Bold zero emission commitment from National Express Are You Bidding for Electric Bus Funding?

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Bus and Coach Professional is published by Plum Publishing Ltd

Editorial Steve Rooney Leadership on zero [email protected] Advertising emissions Jo James [email protected] Sue Rooney [email protected] FOR quite some time we have been writing about the need for the industry Production to seize the opportunity and claim the high ground when it comes to climate Nigel Greenaway change and the imperative to move to ultra low and ultimately zero emission Contact address: vehicles. So it was especially pleasing to see a very bold commitment made by Bus and Coach Professional one of the major groups, and not just targeting its buses, but also encompass- Plum Publishing Ltd, ing its coach operations. Unit 4 Marshbrook Business Park National Express has pledged not to buy any more diesel buses and is aim- Church Stretton ing to identify manufacturing partners that will help it deliver zero emission SY6 6QE coaches with early trials of EV technology, and presumably other solutions, including hydrogen. Telephone: 01694 731510 Zero emission buses are already here. Yes, we need all the major groups to www.busandcoach.com commit to buying them in large volumes; but for coaches it is still early days Every care is taken over the accuracy with a few lone beacons shining out, including Yutong’s EV coach which of material in Bus and Coach had a starring role during the general election campaign. Professional but the publishers cannot For the wider coach sector, National Express’ latest commitment is be held responsible for any errors or very significant. The economics of coach manufacture mean that it needs omissions. substantial orders, typically from the express market, to drive change. Of Views and opinions of contributors course, not all the innovations that work for National Express routes will to Bus and Coach Professional are not wash through to traditional private hire and coach tour work, but it does at necessarily those of the publishers least provide a potential pathway towards zero emission in coaches. who cannot accept responsibility for such contributions. If you would like At last month’s Coach Tourism Association Conference in York, one of to amend your mailing details or no the key topics discussed was the environment, with delegates welcoming the longer wish to receive the printed message that coaches, even diesel ones, offer significant carbon emission magazine, please just contact us as advantages over competing modes, particularly because of the fact that a per the above details. full coach takes so many cars off the road. But this is a temporary situation; Letters and articles may be submitted as the numbers of electric cars begin to grow, this argument will have much to the editor at the address above. less force, and the coach sector at some point needs to identify its own zero © Plum Publishing Limited 2020 emission pathways. If you’re attending the British Tourism & Travel Show at the NEC, I will be very happy to tell you more.

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news greenbus CPT seeks support National Express from government in aims to lead the way wake of COVID 19. on zero emission buses and coaches.

news greenbus ADL wins new Yutong’s first Enviro200 order Scottish order for from trentbarton. E12 with McGill’s.

international aircon FlixBus’ seventh Recognition for Irish birthday heralds firm leading way on further expansion. noise control.

analysis passenger info Next stop for UK Technology public transport solutions to investment - electric enhance passenger bus revolution. information systems. news

CPT seeks support from government in wake of COVID 19 CPT chief executive Graham ‘social distancing’ strategy Vidler has written to buses and/or uses its powers to limit minister Baroness Vere to the use of public transport,” highlight the challenges says Vidler in the letter, “and faced by bus and coach will have a significant eco- operators during the current nomic impact on both the bus Covid 19 virus outbreak. and coach industry at a time Vidler has called on the when we are crucial to deliv- department for transport to ering sustainable transport back the industry in the light which can help to tackle social CPT chief executive Graham Vidler. of a potential downturn in deprivation, rising congestion passenger numbers on both and the climate emergency. public service both during buses and coaches. “In order to ensure that the and after any Coronavirus “This downturn will be sector can withstand such outbreak, government sup- further compounded if the economic impact and con- port is imperative.” government implements a tinue to provide an effective www.cpt-uk.org Transdev to invest in Witchway and Cityzap TRANSDEV has placed a cities across the north,” says £5.3million order for 19 ADL Transdev CEO Alex Hornby. Enviro400MMC buses with “We will show that by creat- 14 for its Witchway service, ing buses that people will be linking Burnley and Raw- proud to be seen on, we can ADL demonstrator on Cityzap route. tenstall with Manchester, offer the right solution needed and the remaining five for its to help reduce harmful emis- we look forward to working Cityzap route between York sions and congestion. with the Transdev team to and Leeds. “Already, 40 per cent of deliver Britain’s best-selling Transdev says its new customers travelling with us double-deck bus in a unique vehicles will offer a pres- on Cityzap are new to buses, specification that will be tige experience to make its having switched from the train sure to delight customers.” buses a place where people or the car, and these amazing Transdev says features want to be seen – while per- new buses will help us to build which are proving popu- suading more customers to on that. lar on its current fleet of 13 switch to the bus instead of “This major investment will ADL Enviro200 single-deck driving or taking a train. also see the Witchway receiv- buses will form part of its “We’re thrilled again ing its fourth batch of brand- latest interior design which to be investing in new new buses in 20 years.” is inspired by customer buses, which will deliver an Alexander Dennis chief research and will include advanced level of customer executive Colin Robertson free wi-fi, USB and wire- experience on two of our adds: “We are delighted that less charging for mobile most popular brands, help- Transdev has chosen Alex- devices, audio visual next- ing us to continue grow- ander Dennis to design and stop announcements and ing our share of the overall build another fleet of amaz- double-glazing throughout. travel market into our local ing buses for the North, and www.transdevplc.co.uk news Improvements for Keighley’s Aireline service

Alex Ross-Shaw (left), City of Bradford metropolitan council; with The Keighley Bus Company general manager Alan Isherwood (right) and Calverley and Farsley councillor Peter Carlill.

THE Keighley Bus Company is expecting a new layout at the junc- at the heart of plans pays off and improving its Aireline route link- tion of New Line and Harrogate attracts new customers, and with ing Keighley, Saltaire and Shipley Road in Greengates to help speed every bus able to remove 75 or more with Leeds, with additional buses up journey times as our buses will cars from our roads, the more peo- added to the service, more seating no longer be held up by turning ple using them means delays and capacity and increased frequencies. traffic on the junction. Work to pollution caused by congestion are “We’re delighted to announce build the new junction may lead to reduced. our plans to build on the amazing some short term delays this year, “These improvements, com- success of Aireline, which has really and to make sure the service is as bined with improved infrastruc- taken off since we introduced our resilient as possible we’ll run an ture schemes such as at New Line Yorkshire-built buses [Optares] extra bus on Aireline to help keep and Harrogate Road which we filled with features suggested by the service on time.” are investing in through the West those who know best – the people Kim Groves, chair of both West Yorkshire-Plus Transport Fund, who travel with us every day for Yorkshire’s Combined Authority are helping us achieve our shared work or leisure,” says The Keigh- and its Bus Alliance, adds: “The targets of increasing bus patronage ley Bus Company general man- success of these services shows that and combating climate change.” ager Alan Isherwood. “We’re also putting passengers’ requirements www.transdevbus.co.uk/keighley ELECTRIC HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS

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jn1252_168x245_electric_systems_bcp.indd 1 26/02/2020 11:54 news

ADL wins new Enviro200 order from trentbarton ADL has announced an order to follow at the start of 2021. relaxing or for keeping con- for 55 Enviro200 single-deck All will be 11.8m long and nected and productive on buses for trentbarton. will have high-specification journeys. The new buses will interiors. “In partnership with ADL take the total number of “Our customers love the 81 we have together developed Enviro200 buses built for Enviro200 buses already in and evolved the Enviro200 the trentbarton and Kinch- our fleet,” says Jeff Counsell, over the last five years. Our bus fleet since 2016 to 136. managing director, trentbar- understanding of what cus- Once the new buses are ton and Kinchbus. “We remain tomers want coupled with in service, Enviro200s will committed to investing in our ADL’s appetite to develop account for nearly 50 per fleet, to attract and retain cus- the product has resulted in cent of trentbarton and tomers by making bus travel this being widely recognised Kinchbus’ fleet. the transport mode of choice as the best customer envi- Delivery of the first 30 – by operating buses that are ronment of any bus on the buses is planned in spring comfortable, clean, green and market today.” 2020, with the remaining 25 the perfect environment for www.alexander-dennis.com

More E200s on order for trentbarton.

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©2020 Cummins Ltd. news ViaVan and Stagecoach launch new on-demand service in Tees Valley A new demand responsive trans- port service, Tees Flex, has been launched by ViaVan and Stage- coach, joining other similar ser- vices in London, Milton Keynes, Liverpool, Oxford, and Leicester. ViaVan, a joint venture between global on-demand shared trans- port experts Via and Mer- cedes-Benz Vans, is working in partnership with Stagecoach in Tees Valley to provide a new form of public transport focused on comfort, flexibility, and afford- ability, while reducing traffic con- gestion and pollution caused by carbon emissions. Tees Flex service launched with nine Sprinters. Tees Flex will use nine new Mercedes-Benz Sprinters, funded short walking distance for pick-up to provide residents of Tees Valley by the Tees Valley mayor and com- and drop-off, allowing for quick with a convenient, affordable, and bined authority. The service aims and efficient shared trips without congestion-reducing shared trans- to provide convenient transport lengthy detours, or inconvenient portation alternative that creates for residents in more isolated com- fixed routes and schedules. a viable alternative to private car munities across the region, with “Over the next few years, we’re usage.” rides costing as little as 50p, and increasingly going to see cit- The service operates in three free for some residents. ies and towns asking how they zones: Darlington and Stock- Using the Tees Flex app, riders can provide their residents with ton; Hartlepool; and Redcar and will be able to hail a Mercedes- transportation that provides the Cleveland. Users can request a Benz Sprinter directly from their same ease and convenience as pri- ride within the service areas, and smartphone, via a website, or vate car ownership, and yet still to destinations outside the desig- over the phone. ViaVan’s algo- achieves the same environmental nated zones, including train sta- rithms will enable multiple riders and congestion-reducing benefits tions and hospitals. Tees Flex will to share the vehicle. The technol- of mass transport,” says Chris also serve Teesside International ogy will direct passengers to a Snyder, CEO, ViaVan. “We are Airport. nearby virtual bus stop within a proud to partner with Stagecoach www.viavan.com WhatsApp innovation by Go North West GO North West is making use of “We’re constantly looking for in the loop with what’s happening, WhatsApp as a tool for communi- new ways to help our customers and making bus travel more acces- cating with its customers. Bus pas- get in touch with us quickly and sible for everybody.” sengers across Greater Manchester easily, and WhatsApp is one of Bus users can get in touch with will be able to send Go North the most widely-used messaging Go North West by sending a West’s customer services team a services around,” says Jon Crox- message to 07779 544650, and a message on WhatsApp, including ford, operations and commercial member of the customer services lost property, to find out where a director, Go North West. “With team will reply. The team will be bus is, a question about a ticket, or WhatsApp, we’ll be able to com- answering questions between 7am even a query about the best bus to municate more effectively than and 7pm, Monday to Friday. catch. ever before - keeping customers www.gonorthwest.co.uk news

New X50 Airline service for Oxford Bus OXFORD Bus Company is March, Carousel will be mak- Aylesbury in Buckingham- launching a new Airline ser- ing further improvements shire, by connecting at High vice X50 at the end of March to the 102 service to deliver Wycombe rail station. providing improved connec- additional late night and early “This is further fantastic tivity between Heathrow morning journeys between news for airport workers Airport and major towns. High Wycombe and Heathrow and passengers living in the The new coach service via Beaconsfield. Chilterns and surrounding will provide additional links Both the X50 and 102 ser- areas,” says Phil Southall, to Heathrow for workers vices are financially sup- Oxford Bus Company and and passengers in Buck- ported by Heathrow Airport, Carousel Buses managing inghamshire, Berkshire and which is working to encour- director. “It is a major step Oxfordshire and will primar- age even more people to forward in our strategy to ily connect High Wycombe, travel to the airport via sus- improve connectivity to Maidenhead and Heathrow. tainable modes. Heathrow and make bus Combined with Carousel The X50 service creates a travel more accessible and Buses’ recently-launched new fast and direct connec- convenient. 102 Chiltern Hundreds ser- tion between High Wycombe “This demonstrates what vice, the new X50 will pro- and Maidenhead. It also pro- can be achieved by bus vide a half-hourly service vides rail-air links to Heathrow operators when external between High Wycombe from towns on the Chiltern funding support is provided and Heathrow, via two dif- Line including Bicester and by key stakeholders.” ferent routes. Also from 29 Banbury in Oxfordshire and www.carousel buses.co.uk

Launch of X50 service. news

Blackpool Transport benefits from fleet renewal programme

ADL partnership has seen more than 100 buses delivered since 2016.

AS it approaches the fifth year of 2020 with the arrival of the lat- Making use of ADL’s Smart- its fleet renewal partnership with est 19 buses. This will take to 107 Pack efficient diesel technology, Alexander Dennis, the total number of Enviro200 fuel efficiency has improved 17 Blackpool Transport Services single-decks and Enviro400 per cent, and spare vehicle pro- says that it is seeing cost sav- double decks supplied over five vision was reduced thanks to ings of £300,000 from its fleet years. With the first replace- the better reliability of the new renewal partnership with Alex- ment cycle complete, discussions fleet, which benefits from close ander Dennis which has seen have begun about a continua- aftermarket support by Alexan- more than 100 new single- and tion of the programme in order der Dennis that has also allowed double-deck buses delivered. to maintain the high standards the operator to remove £70,000 In 2016 Blackpool Transport now achieved. of parts stock from its balance adopted a strategy ensuring that According to the company’s sheet. the average age of the council- forecast for 2019/20, the cur- In addition to the immediate owned operator’s fleet would be rent fleet costs £300,000pa less financial benefits, the upgraded less than three years. Working in to operate that the 2015/16 fleet, fleet has helped to stop a decade partnership with ADL, the fleet thanks to a variety of operational of customer ridership decline. renewal will be completed in cost savings. www.alexander-dennis.com missing pieces

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INDUSTRY DATA Market prices Operator Price High Low Franchising is ‘lead FirstGroup 101 139 88 Go-Ahead 1670 2309 1665 option’ for Liverpool National Exp. 350 485 343 Rotala 47 62 47 says mayor Stagecoach 106 175 105 Closing prices on 10/03/20 plus 12 months high and low.

UK diesel price update pence per litre Northern Ireland 125.3 Scotland 127.4 Wales 127.0 North 126.4 North West 17.5 Yorks & Humbs 127.6 West Midlands 128.2 East Midlands 128.1 East Anglia 128.5 South East 129.3 Liverpool City Region metro mayor Steve Rotheram. South West 128.3 Average weekly fuel prices for the UK by LIVERPOOL is actively consider- that too many people find the region, February 2020. Source: AA ing London-style franchising as it current system to be confusing, considers options for the region’s unreliable and expensive. This bus network. A report from Liv- has to change. European diesel price update erpool City Region metro mayor “I am determined to deliver a pence per litre equivalent Steve Rotheram to the combined London-style integrated trans- Austria 99.7 authority recommends that port system for the Liverpool City Belgium 116.5 bus franchising is supported as Region. There are a number of Czech Rep 105.1 the ‘leading option’ for the city ways we can achieve that through Denmark 116.6 region’s bus network and services. the powers in the Bus Services Estonia 114.6 The recommendation is based Act, but I am clear that whichever Finland 116.2 on two-years of work, including model we choose the outcome France 116.7 a year-long Big Bus Debate, in must be the same: a bus service Germany 103.3 which local people shared their that is simple, punctual, reliable Greece 112.0 current experiences of bus travel and affordable. A system that is Netherlands 113.2 and what they’d like to see in the designed around what we know Hungary 98.5 future. our communities and our local Ireland 112.5 “Our communities rely on economy needs, provides people Italy 120.1 buses to connect them to work, with a genuine quality alternative Luxembourg 92.9 education and training, family, to the car and helps to tackle the Malta 106.7 hospitals and other public ser- climate emergency. Norway 134.9 vices, but too often the current, “Doing nothing is simply not Poland 100.5 de-regulated system is letting an option.” people down,” says Rotheram. Further assessment of bus Portugal 114.2 “People have told me through our franchising, alongside existing Spain 100.0 Big Bus Debate, that buses don’t partnerships and an Enhanced Sweden 127.7 run at the times they need them, Partnership model, will be con- Switzerland 132.9 especially early in the morning, sulted later in the year. European diesel pump price sample late at night and at weekends, and www.liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk February 2020 Source: AA STAND H31 Helping to make a difference

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TBF_Benefits_Advert_170x245.indd 2 29/08/2019 12:57 international Bus and coach news from around the world

Germany FlixBus’ seventh birthday heralds further expansion FLIXBUS, whose very first ride departed on 13 February 2013, from Munich to Erlangen, celebrated its seventh birthday last month. The launch of the service followed lib- eralisation of the long-distance market in Germany and FlixBus now claims to have the world’s larg- est long-distance bus network. Last year, FlixBus carried more than 62 million passengers. FlixBus continues growth plans across continents. “We are proud to celebrate our seventh birthday and to be able to continent to its network with trips est in Britain to stay connected look back on numerous achieve- from France to Morocco. with Europe; the country is cur- ments throughout Europe and the Since 2016, FlixBus has been rently especially welcoming US. But we have no intention to running from France, Germany towards foreign investments,” stop here: 2020 is full of ambitious and Benelux countries to the UK, adds Schwämmlein. “A domestic plans,” says André Schwämmlein, purchasing Megabus’ continental network is the next step towards a founder and CEO of FlixMobility. European business in the same fully integrated offer for customers Later this year, FlixBus is looking year. In 2020, the company is in the UK. We are looking at a very to set up networks in the UK and looking to increase frequencies on mature market for bus travels, thus in Portugal, and plans to launch cross-border buses from France, we are excited to bring something further international connections. the Benelux and Germany and to new to the table – a smart and green Also the company starts its first start its first British domestic con- product combined with the experi- cross-border connections to the nections. ence of traditional British SMEs.” Baltic countries and will add a new “We see a tremendous inter- www.flixbus.com

Sweden express bus sector is growing journeys. The coach is equipped quickly in the Nordic region and with Volvo’s in-house designed for many operators the Volvo 9700 seats and a climate system featur- New double-deck express DD is a longed-for model that ing separate zones for passengers coach from Volvo extends capacity and productivity. and driver. There is a wide range The Volvo 9700 DD, which can of sound systems, multimedia sys- VOLVO Buses is expanding its carry up to 96 passengers, has been tems and passenger information range with the launch of an all- developed to maximise passenger systems available, and door open- new double-decker. The Volvo comfort on both short and long ings, centre aisle, stairs and roof 9700 DD is the next step in the height both upstairs and down- development of the Volvo 9700 and stairs are all designed to facilitate Volvo 9900 long-distance coaches, quick boarding and alighting. and has been developed to meet “We have fine-tuned the driv- customer demands for greater pas- ing properties and the coach senger capacity, flexibility, com- drives steadily and securely owing fort and safety. to a combination of improved sus- “With the Volvo 9700 DD we pension and damping allied to an can now offer our customers a ultra- light body,” adds Orre. “This comprehensive range of tour- together with the vehicle’s design ist and express buses with pre- makes the coach fuel-efficient mium features,” says Niklas Orre, New 9700DD from Volvo can carry up too.” Vice president, coach sales. “The to 96 passengers. www.volvobuses.com Bus and coach news from around the world international

Croatia VDL delivers new buses to Croatian operator VDL Bus & Coach has deliv- fort and safety, we can change buses are double-glazed and ered seven VDL Citeas LLE-120 the habits of local residents,” says equipped with a large Thermo to Croatian public transport Mijat Kurtui, director, Polet. “The King DS-805 air-conditioning company Polet, based in Vink- seven VDL Citeas will improve the system. ovci, in the east of the country. quality of public transport. With The Croatian transport com- These are the first new VDL this project, Polet also wants to pany Polet was formed in 1964 Citeas to be delivered to Croa- facilitate the transport of people with five buses, and has grown tia and all are equipped with with disabilities, people in wheel- into a major carrier in Vukovar- Euro 6 engines and will be chairs and the elderly. In addition, Srijem, Croatia’s most easterly deployed on various city lines all of the buses are equipped with province. The city of Vinkovci in Vinkovci. a Euro 6 engine, which demon- is the majority owner of Polet “Unfortunately, the number strates the high priority we give with a 62.22 per cent share. of public transport passengers to the environment.” About half of Polet’s bus fleet is decreasing in Vinkovci, but The LLE-120s for Polet have consists of VDL Bus & Coach with the arrival of these new a seat layout of 38+3+1 and an buses and coaches. buses, which offer a lot of com- extra-wide seat in front. All the www.vdlbuscoach.com

VDL Citeas LLE-120 for Polet in Croatia. international Bus and coach news from around the world

USA Second major New York contract for Volvo Buses VOLVO Buses’ subsidiary, North American transit bus manufac- turer Nova Bus, has won a new order from New York State met- ropolitan transportation author- ity for 165 hybrid buses. This order follows an earlier Volvo order for 307 Prevost commuter Volvo’s Nova Bus wins New York contract. buses and 23 options for New York, and the latest contract for says Håkan Agnevall, president, pany’s fleet in the New York area Nova Bus of 165 hybrid buses Volvo Buses. totals more than 2,100 buses and has options for 126 hybrid buses “We are immensely proud to be a coaches, branded either Prevost or and 209 diesel buses, making a trusted partner in the development Nova Bus. potential order of up to 500 tran- of public transport in North Amer- The first hybrid buses will be sit buses. ica. In this journey we continue our delivered in May 2020 and the “With these two orders, and strong focus on providing excellence remainder of the deliveries will the possible options, we con- in uptime, reliability and service.” begin in December 2020, to be com- tinue to develop our long- stand- With the latest orders for the pleted in 2021. ing relationship with New York,” Volvo Buses subsidiaries, the com- www.volvobuses.com

Morocco tomised to meet the operating ments the group’s Spanish base at needs of the city. The 12m buses Ormaiztegi. have capacity for 33 seated pas- Irizar Maroc has a production Irizar wins order for 200 sengers and are fitted with ramps capacity of 500 units per year and its buses in Casablanca for wheelchairs and reserved areas production matches the standards for people with reduced mobility. of quality and reliability of vehicles IRIZAR has been awarded the sup- They will operate in Casablanca, manufactured in Europe, according ply of 200 buses for Alsa Albaida with commissioning planned to to Irizar. It currently produces the for urban transport in the city of take place throughout 2020. Irizar i6, Irizar i6S and Irizar i3le Casablanca. The Irizar i3le buses The buses will be manufactured models and exports buses to Europe, are built on a Scania K320 UB4X2 at Irizar Maroc, at the company’s Egypt, Senegal, Libya and Nigeria. LB Euro6 chassis and will be cus- Shkirat plant, which comple- www.irizar.com

Irizar Maroc production facility. Analysis Analysis

Steve Rooney reports Next stop for UK public transport investment – the charge towards the electric bus revolution

round a fifth (21 per cent) of UK green- making it the predominant form used to replenish house gas emissions came from road e-buses today. Moving forward particularly in cities transport in 2017. According to Public with long routes, fast-charging high-power choices Health England air pollution is the big- such as pantographs, mounted more commonly at gest environmental threat to health in some point along the bus route, present a form of the UK, with between 28,000 and 36,000 opportunity charging for e-buses. deaths a year attributed to long-term exposure. Stud- The full-scale electrification of buses is going to Aies have proven that air pollution is known to cause take large amounts of electrical energy and doubts the development of coronary heart disease, stroke, have been expressed over the grid’s ability to meet the respiratory disease and lung cancer, and exacerbate demands for public transport. Supplying an electric asthma. fleet of buses with energy creates significant pres- The UK bus industry has acknowledged more sures, particularly during periods of high demand. needs to be done and has targeted the phasing-out Solutions and smart charging management software of petrol and diesel. The Confederation of Passenger can shift charging loads to specific times and energy Transport, an organisation that represents more than storage systems and off-grid green energy options can 95 per cent of the UK’s bus industry, has pledged to compensate for the rise and fall of demand. only invest in low-emission vehicles from 2025, over The move to an electric future offers many ben- concerns surrounding climate change and air pollu- efits but requires substantial financial investments. tion. Even with the cost of batteries and chargers gradually There are 2,220 electric buses in use across Europe, declining alongside technological advancements, the and London’s electric bus fleet of more than 200 elec- upfront costs of most e-buses will be substantially tric buses is the largest deployment (with a total of 377 higher than their internal combustion engine (ICE) e-buses in the UK). Transport for London has plans equivalents. While this disparity is reversed after to add a further 78 electric double-deck buses as part acquisition, the financial barriers go beyond acquir- of its ambition to have all electric buses in the city by ing a new bus fleet. At present only 1,600 techni- 2037. The effect of electrification will reduce bus NOx cians nationwide are qualified in electric vehicle and emissions by an average of 90 per cent in the capital hybrid maintenance, and they are almost exclusively by October 2020. employed within manufacturers’ franchised dealer The challenges facing the UK and Europe to networks which has a knock-on effect for the cost and develop sustainable, clean transport options requires convenience of repairs. the deployment of technologies and solutions that Bus operators face major challenges to invest in a integrate with existing infrastructures, which cre- charging infrastructure to support electric fleets and ates difficulties with charging practicalities, grid these combined investments – in fleets, maintenance demands and financial challenges. and charging infrastructure – require considerable The predictability of schedules and recharging capital expenditure. This demand has seen a surge in times allows for overnight charging (depot charging) innovative financial collaborations between energy Analysis

companies, operators, manufacturers, and cities and facturing fund' to help the UK bus industry scale up councils to help minimise risks and spread costs to build more zero-emission buses. With this support along the supply chain. in place, all bus operators can and must make clean- A finance model can take into account the total ing up their fleets a priority." cost of ownership of a fleet, including its maintenance The electric bus revolution is underway. The and associated infrastructure; outlining all the capital Department for Transport announced a £50mil- expenditure, operating expenditure and any financ- lion fund to help create England's first town with ing cost. Packages can cover an ‘end-to-end’ solu- all-electric buses; by 2025 all the country’s buses are tion, capturing everything from vehicles to charging expected to be fully electric. £5 billion of new fund- points and infrastructure. Working with public and ing has been promised for overhauling bus and cycle private fleet managers to build depots, capable of links for every region outside London. The five-year delivering megawatts of electricity, that are scalable funding package will deliver approximately 4,000 and financed with no upfront capital outlay - requires new zero emission buses to make greener travel the specialist financing and knowledge. convenient option. Darren Shirley, chief executive of Campaign for There’s still an enormous amount of work to do Better Transport, expressed his own views on achiev- that is going to need the coordination of multiple ing clean transport: “There is a pressing need to accel- agencies, Government policies, industry bodies, erate the move away from diesel to zero-emission energy and transport planning, and financiers, but buses, in order to meet carbon emissions and air pol- once all the correct infrastructure is in all the right lution targets. The government should put in place places then the prize on offer is a sustainable clean deadlines for all new buses to be electric or hydro- transport future. gen-powered by 2025, and all buses on the road to be zero-emission by 2035. This means we need to rapidly Bernard Magee, Future Grid & eMobility, Siemens deploy zero emission technology and tackle any bar- riers to uptake. This can be supported through the government introducing a 'fleet and depot transition https://new.siemens.com/uk/en/company/topic-areas/ fund' to get infrastructure in place, and a 'bus manu- intelligent-infrastructure.html green OUR PICK OF THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BUS AND COACH SECTOR

National Express aims to lead the way on zero emission buses and coaches NATIONAL Express Group has made a bold commitment on zero emission vehicles which it says underlines its vision to become the UK’s most sustainable bus and coach company. The group has pledged not to buy any further diesel buses for its UK operations, and to trial electric coaches as part of a plan to be fully zero emis- sion on buses by 2030, and on coaches by 2035. And the group is also holding its senior executives to account by ensuring that environmental targets make up 25 per cent of their long-term incentive plans. National Express commits not to buy any more diesel buses. During 2020, National Express Group will place a ambition to be the first zero Authority and I will do all I can major order for electric buses, emission transport group in the to support them to reach their hold an in-service trial of an UK. Our decision to never again zero-carbon pledge by 2030.” electric coach on its Stansted buy a diesel bus in the UK cou- In response to the National Airport service, and select part- pled with our support in leading Express announcement, Dar- ners to develop a zero emission the zero emission transition in ren Shirley, chief executive of vehicle suitable for all long dis- coach will place our UK opera- Campaign for Better Transport, tance coach routes. tions at the forefront of efforts to commented: “This is a signifi- The group also plans to set tackle climate change and poor cant and welcome step from a equally ambitious targets for air quality. We simply believe major bus operator. With the its overseas businesses. this is the right thing to do for pressing need to tackle air pol- “Bus and coach travel is our customers, the communities lution and carbon emissions already one of the greenest ways we serve and our stakeholders.” from transport, we cannot to get around, with each bus National Express Group will afford for this pledge to be a removing up to 75 cars from shortly launch a procurement one-off. the road,” says Dean Finch, competition to choose the man- “The government’s upcoming National Express Group chief ufacturers and partners to help National Bus Strategy should executive. “National Express achieve its zero emission ambi- include a clear path to zero has already invested in clean tions. emissions with deadlines - and buses and coaches and kept Mayor of the West Midlands, support - for all new buses to fares low to support a shift from Andy Street, adds: “National be electric or hydrogen-pow- private cars to mass transit. Express have already done a bril- ered by 2025, and all buses on “However we understand the liant job of upgrading their buses the road to be zero-emission by imperative to go much further, while keeping prices low, and 2035.” so we are today setting out an the West Midlands Combined www.nationalexpressgroup.com green OUR PICK OF THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BUS AND COACH SECTOR Yutong’s first Scottish order for E12 with McGill’s MCGILL’S has placed a “pilot order” with Yutong for its E12 bus following a successful trial last year, marking the first Scottish order for the Chinese manufac- turer. “After careful evaluation of the full size zero emission bus prod- ucts available, we opted for the Yutong E12 which matched our safe in the knowledge that their has started their zero emission need for a quality product with a already low emission journeys journey with Yutong and Pelican. long and reliable service life,” says are now effectively, zero emis- “Pelican are able to offer zero Ralph Roberts, McGill’s manag- sion. This is the start of our zero emission buses and coaches from ing director, Operating range is emission journey and our aim is Yutong, with over 101,878 Yutong critical in a battery powered bus that we will phase out clean die- electric vehicles in service around and the Yutong EV fulfils our sel purchases where possible in the world. We are committed to arduous duty cycles. Customer favour of EV.” providing the very best in class and driver comfort is at the fore- Ian Downie, head of Yutong vehicle, with fast DC charging, air front of our specification and we Bus UK, adds: “We are absolutely conditioning, enhanced battery are confident that bus users will delighted that one of the premier warranty, capacity and range.” enjoy the silence and comfort, operators in Scotland, McGill’s, www.pelican-eng.co.uk

CityBus delivers 64tonnes carbon savings in first year of service CITYBUS 2.0, the first on- Last July, the service expanded demand public transport service to another 13 neighbourhoods, in Latin America, has celebrated covering approximately 41 sq km, one year of service in Goiânia and in November, another five On-demand service success in and claims to have eliminated neighbourhoods were added to Latin America 64tonnes of CO2 emissions due the service zone, covering a 43-sq to its ride-sharing approach that km area of Goiânia. steps, sometimes less than the has carried more than 80,000 In its first year, the CityBus 2.0 usual walk between our parked riders in the past 12 months. fleet of 40 vehicles covered more car and final destination. And Powered by Via and operated in than a million km, and during at night, we still strive to reduce partnership with one of Brazil’s this period the service removed the walk to improve passenger largest transit companies, HP 6,500 vehicles from the streets of safety.” Transportes Coletivos, CityBus the capital Goiás, according to a CityBus 2.0 has 80,000 reg- 2.0 is responsible for eliminating survey conducted by the National istered mobile customers on more than 64 tons of CO2 emis- University of Brasilia. iOS and Android, with the app sions, and is now targeting other “Because it’s a shared service, achieving a 4.8 star review. The Latin American cities including the customer just has to travel best rated aspects include driver Fortaleza who are interested in a few metres to wait for their conduct, which remains in first replicating the project. pickup, which ensures faster place, comfort and cleanliness of CityBus 2.0 initially had a travel on more optimised routes,” the minibuses, and stops/rout- trial period with 15 minibuses said Hugo Santana, director of ing. Overall, 98 per cent of cus- that covered 11 neighborhoods transportation at HP Transportes. tomers recommend the service. in the center of the capital. “During the day, it is just a few www.ridewithvia.com green OUR PICK OF THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BUS AND COACH SECTOR

Campaign group backs Zero-Emission Buses Bill A bill has been introduced in diesel-fuelled buses are removed and help to clean up the pol- the House of Lords to hasten from the bus fleet and clarity is luted air in our towns and cit- the transition to zero-emission given to bus operators, manufac- ies. I hope that the government buses. Supported by Campaign turers and local authorities on the will respond positively, either for Better Transport, the Buses pace of transition that is required directly to the bill or through (Zero Emissions) Bill, proposed to meet net zero carbon emission the National Bus Strategy to be by baroness Jenny Randerson, targets and tackle air pollution in published this year.” would prohibit the sale of new towns and cities. Darren Shirley, chief execu- diesel-powered buses after 2025, “With their ability to reduce tive, Campaign for Better Trans- and ensure that all buses on the traffic on our roads, buses are port, adds: road are zero-emission by 2035. already a vital part of efforts to “We want to see this deadline Following the announcement tackle climate change and air to end sales of diesel-powered of £5 billion for buses and cycling, pollution,” says Randerson. “But buses accompanied by fund- including funds to get 4,000 zero the transition to zero-emission ing to help the UK bus indus- emission buses on the road, buses is not happening quickly try scale up its production of Campaign for Better Transport enough. I’m pleased to be work- electric and hydrogen-powered is calling for further action from ing with Campaign for Better buses, and measures to roll out the government in its National Transport on this bill, which will charging infrastructure.” Bus Strategy to ensure that all support net zero emission targets www.bettertransport.org.uk Frankfurt to take nine Go-Ahead gets articulated Irizar ie buses green plaudits THE Go-Ahead Group has been recognised for its commitment to cut carbon emissions over the next 12 months, with the Car- bon Disclosure Project - which rates thousands of companies on efforts to manage their risks and opportunities on climate change - giving it a “B” grade, which means it has the joint-highest score of all British transport Articulated Irizar ie. operators. The new grading follows a IRIZAR e-mobility will deliver The latest order follows one for series of initiatives by Go-Ahead nine 18m electric buses to In-de- ten 12m electric buses in Dussel- to reduce its environmental City-Bus in Frankfurt, in addi- dorf. impact over the past 12 months, tion to nine charging stations for The first units for Frankfurt are including introducing hybrid depots. With 560kWh of stored expected to be delivered by the end ‘geo-location’ electric buses in energy and a range of 220 to 250 of this year. Brighton. km, the latest generation of Iriziar Municipal operator ICB is the And Go-Ahead has also ie buses are equipped with three largest bus company in Frankfurt become the latest company to doors, 46 seats and two spaces for with a fleet of 162 buses, transport- be awarded the London Stock wheelchairs or pushchairs. They ing more than 31 million passen- Exchange’s new Green Economy charge overnight via nine chargers gers each year. accreditation. fitted with CCS Combo 2 adapters. www.irizar-emobility.com www.go-ahead.com green OUR PICK OF THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BUS AND COACH SECTOR

Record electric bus order for Los Angeles LOS Angeles Department of demo any more. This Transportation has placed the is the real thing. It is largest order for electric buses moving on LA streets to date in the United States. The every day. They have total order is for 155 buses, with been here four years 134 to be supplied by BYD. already and the city “The clean transportation can see these buses revolution is not a distant dream are reliable.” — it’s happening on LA’s streets Garcetti adds: ”Seeing these BYD wins major share of new right now,” says Los Angeles zero-emission buses rolling down e-bus order mayor Eric Garcetti. He praised our roads in the years ahead will BYD for building its fleet of “all- bring us one step closer to realis- 2028 Olympic and Paralympic American buses in Los Angeles ing our vision of cleaner air, lower Games. County with an “all-American” emissions, healthier communities, “Los Angeles is making a bold workforce. and a more sustainable future for investment in a clean transpor- “BYD has its American head- all Angelenos”. tation future,” LADOT general quarters here in Los Angeles,” he The order is part of the city’s manager Seleta Reynolds says. adds. “We’re happy that we are Green New Deal: Leading By “These 155 buses will save the city doing this together.” Example, which includes meas- money on fuel costs and improve BYD North America presi- ures to make LADOT’s bus fleet air quality and health for families dent Stella Li, says: “This is not a entirely emission-free in time for across the region we serve.” small order of 20 buses, this not a the opening ceremonies of the www.byd.com

Mellor backs Glasgow’s carbon neutral ambition with electric minibuses MELLOR has supplied five Orion transport to vulnerable individu- Community Transport Glasgow. E full-electric, low-floor mini- als and groups throughout the city, “At the time, our fleet was made buses to Community Transport transporting 75,000 passengers of old diesel minibuses, some Glasgow as part of a strategy to each year. with more than 300,000 miles move to a fully electric fleet, and The Mellor Orion E was on the clock and with the advent in line with Glasgow city coun- first launched in 2017, with an of the Glasgow low emission cil’s ambition to become the UK’s enhanced model introduced last zone, we needed to take action. first city to become fully carbon year. We sought funding which was neutral. It is the first full electric com- provided from Scottish Power CTG is a charity which pro- pletely low-floor small bus Energy Network through the vides accessible, door-to-door designed to operate effectively in Green Economy Fund to initiate both the commercial bus market the change.” and areas such as dial-a-ride and The Orion E’s 96kW 6-phase demand-response services. motor delivers a peak torque “We decided two years ago that value of 5,000Nm to the front the time had come to take the wheel drive system which has plunge and start integrating elec- improved hill climbing capabil- tric vehicles into our fleet with a ity to 25 per cent at up to 5,000 view to being all electric by the kg GVW. end of 2020,” says Graham Dunn, www.mellor-coachcraft.co.uk green OUR PICK OF THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BUS AND COACH SECTOR

City Sightseeing Oxford launches first retrofitted electric bus THE first of five City Sightseeing ogy can work on the sightseeing Oxford buses to be converted to buses. electric power has been launched “We’re proud to deliver the first by Oxford Bus Company. The five electric double-deck bus in the city buses are being retrofitted to elec- in partnership with Oxford City tric as part of a £2.2million grant Council,” says Phil Southall, City to Oxford city council from the Sightseeing Oxford and Oxford government’s Clean Bus Technol- Bus Company managing direc- New lease of life for Transbus Presidents ogy Fund. tor. “At this stage, battery technol- following electric conversion. The investment includes £80,000 ogy is not yet advanced enough to for charging equipment for the City power buses for a full day’s service for environment, adds: “The deliv- Sightseeing Oxford buses, includ- on the majority of our routes. ery of this new electric bus comes ing a new battery storage system to “However, our City Sightsee- at a time when our councils are harness energy produced by solar ing Oxford service runs for fewer determined to take concerted cli- panels on the depot roof. hours per day and for lower mile- mate action to cut vehicle air pol- Over the past two years, Oxford age than our other services, and lution and expand the provision of Bus Company has conducted sev- so we’re delighted to be able to bus services with our Connecting eral trials of single decker electric convert these buses. Over time, Oxford plan. buses on its services. The most our whole fleet of City Sightseeing “The expansion of electric bus recent of these being a BYD sin- Oxford buses will be either zero or provision for tourists and residents gle-deck electric bus which was ultra-low emission, and our entire in Oxford is a clear sign of our used on Park & Ride service 500. fleet of vehicles will be upgraded commitment to offer our residents Oxford Bus says that while current to ultra-low emission standard.” a clean and environmentally sus- electric bus ranges are insufficient Yvonne Constance, Oxfordshire tainable future.” for its main bus fleet, the technol- county council cabinet member www.oxfordbus.co.uk First e-mobility project for VDL Bus & Coach in Italy MILAN is aiming for a zero- project for VDL Bus & Coach in buses, we are striving for a better emission bus fleet for its public Italy and is a co-operation between climate and a cleaner and quieter transportation system by the year operators Arriva Italia, Air Pull- city. Milan is the next city with a 2030 and has taken delivery of man and Autolinee Varesine. pronounced sustainability vision four Citea SLF-120 Electric buses “Together with our partners that uses our expertise as Europe’s from VDL Bus & Coach. The elec- Air Pullman and Autolinee Var- frontrunner in e-mobility. Natu- tric buses will run between the esine, we are showing by winning rally, we are very proud of that. car parks, terminals 1 and 2, and this tender that sustainability is “In Italy, we would now like Cargo City at Milano-Malpensa of paramount importance to us,” to show we are a reliable partner airport. It is the first e-mobility says Angelo Costa, CEO, Arriva that supplies not only the buses Italia. “The choice in favour of the but also the entire charging infra- reliable e-buses from VDL Bus & structure.” Coach fits in seamlessly with this The four Citeas are equipped vision. We see this project as the with an 85kWh battery pack and starting point for increasing the also have wi-fi, USB connections sustainability of Malpensa airport and dark-tinted glazing. and other airports where Arriva is For charging equipment, VDL already present as a carrier.” Bus & Coach is working with Alex de Jong, business man- Dutch company Heliox on its first Four SLF-120 Electrics for ager public transport, VDL Bus Italian electrical project. Malpensa Airport. & Coach, adds: “With our electric www.vdlbusandcoach.com green OUR PICK OF THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BUS AND COACH SECTOR

Karsan showcases Jest Electric at Greece EcoFest KARSAN showcased its Jest Elec- tric vehicle at the EcoFest Athens 2020, which was jointly held by the DEPA company and the Munici- pality of Athens in Athens, Greece. Equipped with BMW i battery technology, the Jest Electric was the only electric public transporta- tion vehicle at the event where the focus was on eco-mobility in cities. The vehicle, which has now been delivered to the West Attica Uni- versity in Greece, provided Niki Karsan’s Jest Electric with BMW i battery technology. Kerameos, Greek minister of edu- cation and Gerasimos Thomas, which can produce up to 18,200 Menarinibus, and its own Jest, Greek minister of energy, with a vehicles a year on a single shift. Atak and Star models. It also pro- test drive at EcoFest. Currently the company manu- duces full electric vehicles, includ- Since 1981, Karsan has been factures H350 light commercial ing the Jest Electric and Atak producing commercial vehicles vehicles for Hyundai Motor Com- Electric in partnership with BMW. at its factory in Bursa, Hasanağa, pany, 10, 12 and 18m buses for www.karsan.tr Irizar lands Italian order in Genoa for 14 ie buses AMT Genoa has ordered 14 Irizar of 220km and come with three R100.v2, R10.v5 and UN38.3 on ie 10.8m, long full-electric buses doors, 20 passenger seats, a wheel- electrical, thermal and mechani- and charging facilities. The Irizar chair/pushchair bay and total cal safety. The vehicles are brand zero‑emissions buses will capacity for 81 passengers. charged overnight with nine operate in Genoa from August. The vehicle batteries are Irizar’s chargers with Combo 2 connec- With on-board energy of own technology and conform to tors, developed and manufac- 350kWh, the buses have a range the latest European regulations tured by the Irizar Group. “Italy is a strategic market for us, and with the awarding of this contract there are now eight countries using our solutions and services,” says Hector Olabego- geaskoetxea, managing direc- tor, Irizar e-mobility. “Genoa is a city with very narrow, inclined streets, which implies a need for a stringent operational set-up from an orographic standpoint, a challenge which we will most certainly overcome with the reli- ability of our products. After all, we offer turnkey projects that are fully customised and designed to meet the needs of the city and the users.” Irizar ie bus. www.irizar-emobility.com green OUR PICK OF THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BUS AND COACH SECTOR

Stagecoach in Cambridge is first outside London to take Enviro400EV ALEXANDER Dennis Limited City style body, seating up to 70 and BYD Europe have supplied passengers. The 10.9m long vehi- two electric double-deck buses cles provide room for a further 13 for Stagecoach in Cambridge in standees. the first use of the zero-emission “Over the years we have steadily BYD ADL Enviro400EV in the reduced the environmental impact UK outside London. of our diesel buses and now 32 per Alexander Dennis supplied the cent of the fleet have the most effi- First Enviro400EVs for electric double-decks to Stage- cient Euro 6 engines,” says Michelle Stagecoach Cambridge. coach for a project between the Hargreaves, Stagecoach East man- operator and the Greater Cam- aging director. “The addition of the bles their electrification, having bridge Partnership, supporting electric vehicles is a further step for- been designed to provide a viable an improvement in air quality in ward in our attempts to keep emis- operational range without com- the city centre of Cambridge and sions to a minimum. Over the past promising the passenger experi- giving the opportunity to inform decade across the UK, Stagecoach ence. potential future investment in a has invested more than £1billion in “We are delighted that the zero emission bus fleet. new greener vehicles and by the end Greater Cambridge Partnership Passengers on the Citi 6 route of 2020 it will have one of the big- and Stagecoach are first in the in Cambridge are the first in the gest electric bus fleets in Europe.” UK regions to enjoy its benefits UK regions to use the BYD/ADL ADL chief executive Colin Rob- and make buses an even more Enviro400EV. ertson adds: “Double-decks are the sustainable choice.” Stagecoach has opted for the backbone of bus services in Britain. www.bydeurope.com 4.2m low-height version of ADL’s The BYD ADL Enviro400EV ena- www.alexander-dennis.com

New ‘zero emissions, zero cost’ lines for Madrid MADRID City Council and first line running from east to west “We are faced with an initia- Madrid’s urban transport oper- around the city’s Gran Vía artery. tive with which Madrid contin- ator, Empresa Municipal de The route will extend to the east ues being a pioneer and leader in Transportes, is introducing new along Calle Alcalá and to the west terms of having a public trans- ‘zero emission, zero cost’ bus along Calle Princesa between Ato- port system that guarantees the routes, using Irizar electric vehi- cha and Moncloa. It will run every mobility of millions of citizens cles. six to eight minutes on weekdays each day, and in terms of sustain- Ten Irizar ie zero-emission and every ten minutes on Satur- ability and the fight to reduce buses will be deployed with the days and public holidays, starting pollution,” says Madrid mayor at 7:00 am from the terminals, and José Luis Martínez-Almeida. the last buses will be at 11:30 pm at Hector Olabegogeaskoetxea, Moncloa and 11:00 pm at Atocha. managing director, Irizar The Irizar ie buses are 12m long e-mobility, adds: “It fills us with and equipped with two doors, 28 pride that Madrid has chosen to seats and capacity for 75 passen- use our zero-emission buses for gers. They have 230kW of power in this initiative. Collaborating on five lithium-ion batteries, giving this project is very important to the bus a range of between 100 and us. We are fully committed to 150km, depending on the driving the environment and we want to cycle and atmospheric conditions, contribute to improving citizens’ New zero cost lines to use Irizar equivalent to 17 hours operation in quality of life.” electric buses. Madrid. www.irizar-emobility.com green OUR PICK OF THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BUS AND COACH SECTOR

29 BYD ADL Enviro400EV double decks convert Route 94 LONDON’S route 94 has This latest delivery from the switched to electric power with BYD ADL Partnership sees the the delivery of 29 BYD ADL total number of its electric buses Enviro400EV double-decks. in service climb to 269, includ- The vehicles have gone into ser- ing 200 BYD ADL Enviro200EV vice with RATP Dev subsidiary single-decks. The new vehicles are London United. also fitted with the new Acoustic Electric conversion for Route 94. Route 94 provides a 24-hour Vehicle Alerting System which service for West London resi- generates sound at speeds below tor at BYD (UK), says: “Today, dents, from Acton Green to 12mph to alert pedestrians and we have 234 BYD ADL electric Piccadilly Circus via Westfield, vulnerable road users. buses operating in the capital - Notting Hill and Oxford Street. “These new buses will support we’re delivering a cleaner Lon- With an overall 67-seat capacity TfL and London’s strategy for a don. RATP Dev is one of the (24 in lower saloon, 43 in upper greener city. It is the second step in city’s main Transport for Lon- saloon), the 10.9m BYD ADL our garage network electrification don operators, and a 29-vehicle Enviro400EV boasts up to 160 strategy,” says Catherine Chardon, delivery is not only a ringing miles on a single charge. Power managing director, RATP Dev endorsement for emissions-free is delivered through BYD’s pure- London. mobility for the people of Lon- electric drivetrain comprising Mehdi Sinaceur, chairman, don, but also for the BYD ADL the electric motor and 382kWh RATP Dev UK, adds: “Electrifica- partnership and its combina- iron-phosphate batteries. The tion is one of the key transforma- tion of world-renowned electro- bodywork from ADL includes a tions that RATP Dev is helping our mobility technology and British glazed staircase, long wheelchair London companies with, leverag- manufacturing ingenuity.” bay and an automatic wheelchair ing our group experience”. www.byd.com ramp at the rear doors. Frank Thorpe, managing direc- www.alexander-dennis.com Automated line as Akasol ramps up production AKASOL is investing in fully start in the new Gigafactory 1 positioned to be able to deliver automated production lines for south of Darmstadt by the mid- the quantities agreed with our its high-energy battery modules dle of 2021. The new ultra-high- serial customer in the coming produced at the Gigafactory 1 energy AKASystem AKM CYC years,” says Sven Schulz, CEO. at its new Darmstadt campus. battery systems will be manufac- “In addition, the new Gigafac- It aims to invest up to €29mil- tured at this location. These units tory 1 will be an important basis lion, and the move also includes achieve improved energy density for the further expansion of our production lines for the compa- compared to current systems, ena- production capacities in North ny’s new US site in Hazel Park, bling vehicle ranges of up to 600- America, where we will install Michigan. 800km in full-electric buses and Gigafactory 2 with almost iden- Akasol says the investment commercial vehicles, depending tical production equipment from follows a serial order from a on the vehicle type and driving the beginning of 2022.” leading international commer- profile. In addition to the expansion cial vehicle manufacturer in the For the new Gigafactory 1, of new production capacities, summer of 2019 for the supply of AKASOL has commissioned pro- Akasol’s new headquarters will ultra-high-energy battery sys- duction equipment manufacturer have a test and validation cen- tems worth in “the high three- Manz to supply the first fully auto- tre as well as an administration digit million euro range”, and mated module production lines. building and space for up to 500 new production capacities are “With a total capacity of up to workplaces on a 20,000 sq m site now being built up as planned, 5GWh in the new Gigafactory next to Gigafactory 1. enabling serial production to 1 in Darmstadt, Akasol is well www.akasol.com green OUR PICK OF THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BUS AND COACH SECTOR

World-first hydrogen double decks on the way to Aberdeen for summer launch THE world’s first hydrogen-pow- duction and bus refuelling station our depot to accommodate these ered double-deck buses will be was opened in Aberdeen in 2015, environmentally-friendly zero- operating in Aberdeen this sum- as part of a £19million green trans- emission vehicles and are up-skill- mer. First Aberdeen is to run the port demonstration project. The ing all our staff to accommodate 15 buses along one of its most Aberdeen city council-led project this next generation of buses. popular routes and the new vehi- tested the economic and envi- “It is a huge effort from all our cles are aimed at underlining the ronmental benefits of hydrogen staff to deliver this project, so we city’s role as a pioneer in hydrogen. transport technologies and aims to are extremely proud to be a part The Wrightbus hydrogen dou- drive the development of hydrogen of this project in helping the city ble-decks will arrive in the city technologies. to lead the way on the hydrogen in the spring for a period of final “Aberdeen is at the forefront of journey.” testing and training for drivers, developing green technologies and The vehicles will be operated by ahead of the service launch in the our continued innovative com- First mainly on Service 19 (Peter- summer. mitment to hydrogen truly puts culter to Tillydrone) and Service The £8.3million project has us on the global map,” says Aber- X27 (city centre to Aberdeen Inter- been funded by Aberdeen city deen city council co-leader Jenny national Airport via Dyce station). council, the Scottish Government, Laing. “The new buses come with John McLeister, Wrightbus and the European Union, with an even better technology helping director for sales and business investment of about £500,000 per to tackle air pollution in the city development, says: “This is the vehicle. and further makes Aberdeen an start of an exciting chapter for The buses can be re-fuelled in entrepreneurial and technological Wrightbus in Aberdeen which will less than 10 minutes and offer a leader by pushing boundaries for be the first city to introduce this greater range than electric buses hydrogen.” large deployment of fuel cell zero with water vapour being the only David Phillips, operations emission vehicles.” emission. director, First Aberdeen, adds: www.firstgroup.com The UK’s first hydrogen pro- “We are in the process of adapting www.wrightbus.com

Aberdeen city council co-leaders Jenny Laing and Douglas Lumsden (left) with First Aberdeen operations director David Phillips. focus on COOLING & HEATING Recognition for Irish firm leading way on noise control VENTAC has been presented with the Micro/ SME Manufacturing Company of the year at the Irish Manufacturing Research Manufac- turing and Supply Chain Awards 2020. “We are thrilled to win this prestigious award,” says managing director Darren Fortune. “It is a great recognition of our skilled team. Our manu- facturing facilities specialise in the manufacturing of tailor-made material composites for the vehicle noise control sector. Our capabilities are dedicated to producing innovative acoustic products and Micro/SME Manufacturing Company of the year award for Ventac. solutions. Winning this award acknowledges our high-performance manufacturing solutions which rely on us to define and deliver thermo-acoustic we tailor to the exact needs of our customers.” insulation performance that sets them apart from Ventac is a noise and thermal control partner for their competitors. many of Europe’s leading bus and coach manufac- “All of our recommended solutions are sup- turers. It designs and supplies targeted treatment ported by an acoustic test programme where we packages that protect the cabin space from noise develop a detailed understanding of the noise and and undesirable heat loss. The company says it acoustic properties of each project. Our materials, can make vehicles quieter through the combina- products and acoustic solutions are then perfor- tion of materials and vehicle application expertise. mance validated to ensure that we can deliver the “Ventac’s solutions are adapted and designed most effective noise control solution to our cus- to meet the evolving demands of our customers tomers.” including sound quality challenges of eMobility Ventac has locations in the UK, Czech Repub- applications and achieving thermal cabin comfort lic, The Netherlands and Turkey as well its Irish in a broader range of demanding environments for headquarters. global territories,” adds Fortune. “Our customers www.ventac.com Control and flexibility at heart of Eberspacher solutions EBERSPÄCHER is a well-known leader in the heat per unit. It can offer these as saloon modules heating and zircon field and has significant or driver heat and demist units. experience in supplying solutions for the All components are centrally controlled by commercial vehicle and bus and coach sec- Eberspächer’s own design of CAN controller, tor. Eberspächer has invested in products which will interface with vehicle systems. In addi- and control systems which allow fast heat- tion, each heater has its own PCB which allows ing, being infinitely controllable to deliver for individual control and economic electrical heat by using the minimum of electrical con- consumption. sumption to maintain range, which is para- As well as heating, Eberspächer offers control- mount on these vehicles. lable air-conditioning systems for both the pas- To achieve this, the company says it has devel- senger and driver. oped air heating boxes which give up to 10kW of www.eberspacher.com Superior driver & passenger comfort The Volvo 9900 dedicated to providing a safe and secure journey in premium comfort

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Technology solutions to enhance passenger information systems and provide operators with key management data. Steve Banner reports

HEN passengers are waiting Rise has provided Byfleet, Surrey-based Falcon at a bus stop they do not Coach Hire with a suite of packages including spend their time staring at a new website, mobile app, bus tracking and the travel pass they have just journey planning. Although it is best-known as a fished out of their purse or coach company, Falcon operates bus routes in and wallet. Odds are that they look around Guildford, Woking, Chobham and Surbiton. at their smartphone instead, What it refers to as its flagship, its 461 service, says Ashley Murdoch, founder and chief executive links Kingston-on-Thames with Addlestone. The Wofficer of mobile ticketing provider Corethree. launch of this service coincided with the website and "For passenger transport companies, mobile data e-commerce platform becoming fully operational. technology with m-ticketing capability is becoming Falcon's decision to partner with Rise has turned the default choice due to convenience, speed and out to be the right one, says Falcon managing the ability to improve and personalise the customer director Richard Telling. "We've now moved all our experience through this direct communications online marketing onto their platform," he says. channel," he contends. Rowgate Group makes use of what Rise has to There is no denying that our lives increasingly offer too. It runs over 40 buses and coaches across centre around smartphones, and in more ways two locations in Berkshire - Windsor and Bracknell than one. Apps are playing a key role when it - under the White Bus and Fernhill banners. comes to proving entitlement to travel, and enabling Rise is also providing digital services, passengers to see when the bus they want including bus tracking, to Rotala's to catch will arrive. Diamond and Hallmark operations in While some stops in urban areas host the West Midlands, the north west, and countdown displays that show how much the south east. Rotala runs the Hotel longer the bus will be, many do not, and Hoppa service which transports those in rural districts seldom do. Apps that let travellers know when their bus is likely to appear also enable them to stay at home until the last moment, minimising the amount of time they have to spend standing at a stop in the wind and rain. Travellers in Bolton and the surrounding area who ride on Vision Bus's services are able to use an app for both Android and iOS smartphones courtesy of Rise Digital Media. The app delivers arrival times and service updates and allows them to buy and activate m-tickets. Switching to the other end of the country, The TruTac team will be on STAND 4C01 AT THE CV SHOW We are talking 28 – 30 APRIL Improved Driver Awareness!

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The main reason we moved to TruTac software, was the excellent CPT Tacho Analysis product. It’s the best way to improve all-round driver monitoring and two-way consultation regarding all aspects of driver duties and standards.

Mark Hodgson. Managing Director, Coatham Coaches.

For peace of mind and complete compliance control of your fleet, call us today! 024 7669 0000 [email protected] www.trutac.co.uk Complete Compliance Control Passenger Information passengers from the hotels surrounding Heathrow Airport to the terminals. Other bus tracking providers include Rygo. Formerly known as Find My Bus, it can track a bus, tell passengers if it is running behind schedule and provide them with immediate alerts if a service has to change suddenly due to unexpected circumstances - flooding, for example. It can offer a route map showing the roads the bus is scheduled to travel down, and display simplified timetables designed to fit onto smartphone and tablet screens. Corethree can provide services in addition to m-ticketing. Last year it announced an upgrade to the support it provides to the Intalink Partnership. Operated by Hertfordshire County Council, Intalink is responsible for managing partner fraud and loss of revenue, Corethree points out, arrangements between public transport services and its use speeds up boarding. delivered by companies such as Metroline and "Other examples of the ways in which we have Stagecoach and local authorities around the county integrated live data with m-ticketing include the such as Watford borough council and Three Rivers First Bus app, which uses real-time information district council. Rail companies are involved too. to let users know when their next bus is arriving," The upgrade allows customers to select the says Murdoch. "Our Translink mLink app enables operator they want to travel with on their smartphone users across Northern Ireland to access Translink's screen, check when the bus they want to board is timetables and its Twitter feed for travel updates on expected to arrive using real-time GPS data, and the move." buy an m-ticket in one transaction through the app. As well as meeting the needs of major companies, The availability of a cashless means of payment Corethree wants to help small- to medium-size means they no longer need to carry the correct fleets. That is why it has launched Coretickets, an change or top-up payment cards. m-ticketing app which it says can be introduced Nor do they have to worry about losing travel quickly by any organisation requiring customer passes. In this context, it is worth noting that ticketing. Corethree has been involved with a project "It's an off-the-peg solution," says Murdoch. which enables travellers to tap their smartphones "Businesses can brand it as their own product and onto Ticketer readers to validate their ITSO it's simple for them to, for example, change prices." travel products, instead of using a physical ITSO With an eye to speeding up smartcard. boarding, the firm has also From an operator's viewpoint reducing the introduced Near Field amount of cash taken means reducing the cost Communications. It allows of sorting and counting notes and coins for an NFC tag to be used and banking them. Furthermore, the with an m-ticket in conjunction m-ticketing app reduces the risk of with both Android and Apple iOS. "When operators know how customers are using their services then they are better positioned to make improvements as well as take advantage of targeted mobile marketing opportunities," says Hertfordshire county council passenger transport manager Matthew Lale. Corethree says that all the data it aggregates can help operators generate extra revenue from the development of products tailored to appeal to individual passengers. If they know that certain individuals travel to particular locations regularly then they can talk to retailers and service providers about providing vouchers Passenger Information designed to drive customers to particular outlets Well-known as a source of printed blinds and in the area concerned; to coffee shop A rather than other types of destination display, McKenna coffee shop B for example. Brothers has provided LED displays for 19 ADL "You might learn from the data that a passenger Enviro400 City double-deckers that have just gone uses the bus from Monday to Friday, but not at into service with First Eastern Counties. They should weekends," says Murdoch. "What you can then do make it easy for waiting travellers to see where an is come up with incentives that encourage them to approaching bus is heading. use it at weekends too." Worth some £5.3million, and all on Scania The roll-out of 5G will enable a lot more data to be platforms, the double-deck buses are being handled, he points out. deployed on the long-distance Excel route linking Much of this data can be obtained anyway, not Peterborough and Norwich. through m-ticketing or apps but by tracking people Not surprisingly, all the newcomers feature free using their mobile phones says Sam Glover, founder wi-fi, USB sockets, and seatback smartphone and chief executive officer of LetsJoin. charging with phone docks. Technology is on the This does not mean that the individuals march, and all customer-conscious operators are themselves can be identified or that their texts, embracing it. emails and browsing history can be harvested, he "So we're continuing to see says. What it tells you is that somebody with a excellent growth year-on- particular phone boarded a bus at a particular year," says Murdoch. stop, then got off, say, five stops later. Aggregating the data allows operators to see which routes or sections of routes and stops are the most heavily used, and when that usage takes place. Service frequencies, routes and the size of the buses that are going to be deployed on them can be planned accordingly. "What we're doing is tracking the movement of people through passenger networks," says Glover. Some 3,500 buses run by various different businesses are involved. It is of course worth emphasising that any data collected for whatever purpose has to be handled in line with the requirement of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and that all of the safeguards it imposes must be observed. LetsJoin's activities comply with GDPR, stresses Glover. LetsJoin can also provide operators with a news feed designed to reduce the onboard wi-fi data costs they incur and with content that should hopefully interest passengers. Local stories are prioritised over what is happening UK-wide or globally. With almost 800 buses serving routes in Edinburgh and the surrounding area, local authority owned-Lothian Buses takes LetsJoin's news service. While many travellers can barely function CONTACT unless they have got a smartphone in front of them, others prefer older-established methods of Omnibus communication. 0161 683 3100 Omnibus Solutions has been steadily developing www.omnibus.solutions OmniSTOPdesign which it says enables users to create accurate printed timetables tailored for display at each individual stop. It draws on timetable Rise DM data compiled by Omnibus's OmniTIMES package. www.bushub.co.uk/mobile-ticketing Scan to add in your calendar*

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