National Express West Midlands is running the first fully electric bus in Birmingham.
Scottish manufacturer Alexander Dennis Ltd is lending the bus operator one of their new electric Enviro200Ev for a week to test it on the streets of Birmingham, Solihull and Coventry.
Bernie Cassidy, Engineering Director at National Express West Midlands, said: “We believe that electric buses are the future. We’re working closely with central government, local councils and Transport for West Midlands through the Bus Alliance to make this a reality. Within 18 months, National Express plans to have electric buses operating regularly in Solihull, Birmingham and Coventry.
“However, although electric cars have been around for a while, this technology is relatively new in buses, and it’s very different from the vehicles we already have. So my team was really keen to get their hands on this demonstration model electric bus. We’ll be putting it through its paces so we can see what it’s like to drive and maintain.”
The ADL Enviro200Ev does not have one central “engine”. Electricity from a 307kw battery drives each back wheel separately using 90kw hub motors.
The bus can do 160 miles on one AC charge. The lithium-ion iron phosphate battery sits on the roof of the bus and can be fully charged up in under four hours.
Customers will notice a smoother drive, as well as the bus making no engine noise. And of course they can ride easy knowing they are making no emissions at all.
