National Express West Midlands has recently placed a firm order for 170 double deck electric buses with the electric vehicle partnership of Alexander Dennis Limited (AD) and BYD UK, which is UK’s leading electric bus producer. This new order will bring the total number of BYD AD Enviro400EV buses operated by National Express in the West Midlands to 329, making it the largest fleet of its kind in the UK.
Moreover, this order is in line with National Express’ commitment to have a completely zero-emission bus fleet in the UK by 2030. The electricity to power these electric vehicles will be 100% renewable and zero carbon, which is an excellent step towards tackling climate change and air pollution.
It is noteworthy that this order is part of the UK government’s ambition to make Coventry the first All-Electric Bus City by 2025. Over half of the 130 BYD AD Enviro400EV buses ordered earlier are already operating on National Express bus routes across Coventry.
According to Tom Stables, CEO of National Express UK & Germany, these electric buses, built in Falkirk by Alexander Dennis on a BYD chassis, are clean, green double-decker buses that are not only more economical to run but also popular with customers. As a result, these buses will help boost passenger growth and revenue by encouraging more people to ditch their cars for the bus. Furthermore, they play an essential role in mitigating the climate and clean air emergency.
In addition, Martin West, Group Commercial Director at Alexander Dennis, said that this repeat order from National Express will create the largest fleet of BYD AD Enviro400EV electric double-decker buses in the country, demonstrating the accelerating pace of the transition to zero-emission mobility.
Frank Thorpe, Managing Director at BYD UK, also commented on this order, stating that it is yet another significant electric bus order, and they are delighted to support National Express as it continues to replace its diesel bus fleets with clean electric alternatives. He further emphasized that through their partnership with Alexander Dennis, they bring safe, reliable, non-polluting solutions to make public bus services more sustainable and appealing to a broader range of passengers.
It is worth mentioning that NFI Group Inc, the parent company of Alexander Dennis, is a leading independent bus and coach manufacturer, with vehicles operating in 13 countries and moving millions of people every day. The company is also a leader in low- and zero-emission mobility, offering a wide range of vehicles, including clean diesel, compressed natural gas, diesel-electric hybrids, and zero-emission battery- and fuel cell-electric buses and coaches.
