Transdev Blazefield is set to exceed an aggregate five million kilometres of battery-electric bus travel this month, which the operator notes will coincide with World Environment Day, held on 5 June.
Its fleet of zero-emission buses now includes Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV double-decks and Mercedes-Benz eCitaro single-decks with The Harrogate Bus Company, and further eCitaro models with The Keighley Bus Company.
The 39 Enviro400EVs and eCitaros delivered new to Harrogate save a claimed more than 5,200 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, which is the equivalent annual carbon footprint for over 420 people. Two former demonstrator eCitaro buses are also in Harrogate.
The 15 eCitaros in Keighley are set to save around 1,430 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. Renewable energy is sourced to charge all buses, including from wind farms in Scotland.
Speaking about the pending five million kilometre achievement, Transdev Blazefield Managing Director Henri Rohard says: “As one of the first bus operators in the North of England to invest in innovative, sustainable, all-electric travel, we are delighted to be hitting such an important milestone so close to World Environment Day.
“To capture the carbon equivalent of over 80,000 trees, enough to cover eight football purchased, is a fantastic achievement – particularly for our drivers and engineering colleagues, whose dedicated work has helped to make this happen.”
At Harrogate, the Enviro400EV fleet is used on high-profile route 36 between Leeds and Ripon. The red eCitaros work other routes, and have displaced eight Volvo 7900e battery-electric single-decks dating from 2018. In Keighley, the green eCitaro models largely work the 67 and Shuttle 662 routes between the town and Bradford.
Other sustainability initiatives by Transdev Blazefield include fitting dual recycling bins to each new vehicle, renewing its contract for high-blend biodiesel for school buses, using carbon-offset paper for printed timetables, and the recycling of rainwater for a drive-through bus wash.
