Alexander Dennis, a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc., one of the world’s leading independent global bus manufacturers, today announced that Zemo Partnership testing has confirmed a 97% charging efficiency for its next-generation electric buses, delivering further financial benefits for customers by reducing total cost of ownership.
The exceptional charging efficiency has been achieved by careful system integration and optimisation, with the manufacturer’s engineers working in close partnership with driveline supplier Voith Turbo, battery system provider Impact Clean Power Technology and HVAC specialists Grayson Thermal Systems.
The 97% grid-to-wheel efficiency is the best recorded in UK zero-emission bus certification to date.
It further enhances the overall efficiency of Alexander Dennis’s next-generation electric buses, which were earlier certified with a benchmark 0.67kWh/km driveline energy consumption over the UK Bus Cycle for the Enviro400EV, and 0.54kWh/km for the Enviro100EV.
The combined charging and driveline efficiencies ensure that the manufacturer’s next-generation electric buses require significantly less energy than other electric buses for charging, bringing down their operating costs.
The independent data from Zemo Partnership testing shows that the Enviro400EV can reduce energy cost by at least 14% compared to any other certified electric double decker of similar battery size under UK Bus Cycle testing conditions.
Total cost of ownership is further reduced by the substantially longer battery life of Alexander Dennis’s next-generation electric buses, enabled by class-leading warrantable energy throughput of up to 1.6GWh.
As real world-conditions may differ from UK Bus Cycle testing, Alexander Dennis provides customers with comprehensive route modelling to anticipate performance on their actual routes.
Alexander Dennis Group Engineering Director, Chris Gall, said: “We have focused on delivering benefits for our customers throughout the development of our next-generation electric buses. We’re delighted to announce a stunning 97% grid-to-wheel efficiency, certified by the Zemo Partnership’s zero-emission bus testing. This will minimise energy requirements and slash costs for customers by delivering sustained savings throughout their buses’ long operational lives.
“This is once again testament to the fantastic expertise of our engineering team and the collaborative working culture we have fostered with our key partners Voith Turbo, Impact Clean Power Technology and Grayson Thermal Systems.”
Forward-looking statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements relating to expected future events of Alexander Dennis and NFI Group, including certain forecasted operating efficiencies, battery life, energy consumption and throughput, driving range and operator benefits relating to Alexander Dennis’ new products, the Enviro100EV and Enviro400EV, that involve risks and uncertainties. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions and speak only as of the date of this press release, investors cannot be assured that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements, and the differences may be material. Actual results may differ materially from management expectations as projected in such forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons, including the expected energy efficiencies and other test results which have been obtained under controlled conditions and may not be realized to the same extent or at all when the vehicle is driven in “real-world” operating conditions by customers; risks related to reliance on third-party manufacturers of Alexander Dennis’ products; and the other risks and uncertainties discussed in the materials filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and available on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca.
Due to the potential impact of these factors Alexander Dennis and NFI disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable law.