Reading Buses has launched its opening fleet of 24 Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV battery-electric double-decks, with those vehicles entering service from 6 February.
They are for use on two 24/7 routes – the purple 17 between Tilehurst and Wokingham Road, and the claret 21 between central Reading and Lower Early. While most are branded for those services, a small number are in non-route specific schemes.
Among those is one carrying a Zebra-themed identity in a nod to the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) funding that has gone towards their purchase. Reading Buses has repurposed that acronym into Zero Emission Buses for the Reading Area.
Another is in a design to raise awareness of global warming, while one is finished in gold to mark the operator’s 125th anniversary in 2026. Meanwhile, fleet number 1 carries the MRD 1 registration mark that has adorned previous significant buses in the municipal fleet.
Reading Buses says that the battery-electrics will replace existing vehicles on a one-for-one basis on the 24/7 services. Charging can be accomplished without impacting the utilisation required of vehicles in that application.
The operator has chosen a high specification for the buses. That includes high-backed seats with phone holders and wireless and USB charging; mood lighting; tables at the rear of the lower deck; a glazed staircase and ‘sunroof’; a family area upstairs with a table; and a CCTV display by the staircase to show free seats on the upper deck.
Speaking about the debut, Chief Executive Robert Williams says: “I am beyond excited to be launching our first-ever battery-electric buses.
“In addition to being zero-emission, they bring a significant improvement in journey quality for our customers onboard. Alongside our 75 low-emission biomethane-powered buses, over 60% of our fleet will be low- or zero-emission – and the remaining diesel buses are still extremely clean Euro VI engined.”
The ZEBRA bid that has part-funded the Enviro400EV buses was led by Reading Borough Council. That money covered 75% of the incremental cost over a comparable diesel and associated depot infrastructure, which has been supplied by Zenobē.
Reading Buses invested the equivalent of 24 diesel buses and says it expects the remaining 25% to be covered by reduced running costs over the battery-electrics’ lifetime.
Biogas-fuelled Scania Alexander Dennis Enviro400CBG buses displaced from the purple 17 will remain with Reading Buses and be reallocated to other routes after refurbishment, the operator says. Older stock will then be disposed of. Eight more Enviro400EVs are on order.
