Alexander Dennis, a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc., today announced that the first examples of its next-generation Enviro200EV electric single-decker have entered passenger service at Go North East, part of the Go-Ahead Group.
Four Enviro200EV have taken over the X66 route, which links Gateshead Interchange with the Metrocentre shopping complex. The busy route carries more than 900,000 passengers a year.
The buses are part of a wider joint investment from Go North East, the North East Combined Authority and the Department for Transport. They have been fully built in Britain at Alexander Dennis’s factory in Scarborough, North Yorkshire.
Each of the electric buses is 10.9m long and offers up to 37 seats. The new buses feature a range of accessibility upgrades compared with the buses they replace, such as an additional wheelchair or pram space, audio-visual next-stop announcements, hearing loops and external sounders to alert pedestrians, helping to make bus travel more inclusive for everyone.
The next-generation Enviro200EV is powered by the capable Driventic Vehicle Electrical Drive System. The Enviro200EV’s lightweight design philosophy makes the buses around two tonnes lighter than other electric single-deckers, requiring less energy and increasing their efficiency.
This ensures plenty of range from the buses’ 400kWh batteries, which are charged overnight at Go North East’s state-of-the-art Riverside depot in Gateshead.
Paul Davies, Alexander Dennis President & Managing Director, said: “We’re delighted to see the first next-generation Enviro200EV launched at Go North East, marking the introduction into passenger service of a brand new, British-built electric single-deck bus. Designed with lightweight principles and featuring a new interior, these buses will set new standards for efficiency and passenger experience. We are grateful to the Go-Ahead Group for their trust in our product as one of the first customers to choose the new Enviro200EV.”
Ben Gilligan, Managing Director of Go North East, said: “We want to be at the forefront of sustainable bus travel and being the first operator to operate the Enviro200EV is an important part of this.
“Our new buses will make a huge difference to our customers and communities in Gateshead. Our passengers onboard will enjoy smoother, more comfortable journeys on modern vehicles while communities benefit from quieter, zero emissions buses on the roads.”
Please credit the exterior image to Ho-Kit Lam and the interior pictures to Go North East.