London extends its’ e-bus fleet – new ADL BYD buses enter service

by Jens Bernhardt

Enviro400EV in London - the Alexander Dennis double decker bus has been fitted with a BYD propulsion and battery system I Photo: ADL

London is not only know for its’ famous double decker buses, but will also be soon known for its electric bus fleet. Already today, there are almost 100 electric buses in operation in London with further vehicles being delivered.

The first batch from a total fleet of 37 new zero-emission, fully electric BYD ADL Enviro400EV double deck buses were delivered to London bus operator, Metroline, last week.

ADL BYD Enviro400 EV double decker buse on line 43 I Photo: ADL

The first five vehicles entered service last week on Metroline’s route 43 as part of the bus operator’s contract with Transport for London (“TfL”), operating out of Metroline’s Holloway Bus Garage. Route 43 runs from Friern Barnet to London Bridge, a total distance of 14.5 kilometers (9 miles).

London Bus fleet to be 100 % electric by 2037

In 2020 the whole double decker London fleet is expected be fully electrical- By 2037 all buses in London (about 8,000) will be zero-emission, London’s City Hall and Transport for London have communicated. Electric bus operation in London started in the year 2015. Since then, a total of 3,240 hybrid buses, 96 electric buses and ten hydrogen buses out of a fleet of ca. 10,000 buses have been put into operation.

In order to improve the air quality in central London, the so called central London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) has been put into place. All TfL buses operating in the ULEZ in central London must meet or exceed Euro VI emission standards.

The new Enviro400 EV for London

The new Enviro400EV are similar to the proven Enviro200EV buses, albeit with a new chassis and lightweight aluminium double deck bodywork measuring 10.9m in length, 4.3m high and 2.55m wide. Power is delivered via BYD’s fully electric drivetrain technology featuring high capacity 382 kWh BYD Iron-Phosphate batteries providing 256 kilometer (160 mile) range.

Traditional interior styling of the ADL double decker buses I Photo: ADL
The re-charge of the batteries takes place overnight in the depot I Photo: ADL

The new double deck layout allows for 24 forward-facing seats and 43 forward-facing seats in the upper saloon – 67 seats in total. A modern exterior retains the traditional design cues of London’s iconic red double deck buses with thoroughly modern bodywork which has been designed and manufactured by ADL.

The new Enviro400EV is built in Britain at ADL’s facility in Scarborough, Yorkshire, using BYD components assembled into a powered chassis built in Europe at BYD’s plant in Komarom, Hungary.

08.07.2019