Falcon Buses has become the first independent operator to take delivery of Alexander Dennis’s next-generation Enviro200EV, adding 13 of the battery-electric buses to its fleet.
The fleet was officially launched at Brooklands Museum in Weybridge yesterday, with four of the 10.9m-long vehicles on display.
They will begin operation this month on the Surrey operator’s routes 436 between Weybridge and Woking, serving the museum, and 461 linking Kingston, Weybridge, Addlestone and St Peter’s Hospital.
The purchase was supported by the government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA 2) scheme through a successful bid by Surrey County Council in partnership with Falcon Buses.
Unveiled at the Euro Bus Expo in 2024, Go North East became the first operator to put the latest generation of the model into service in April.
Building on the success of the Envi200EV launched in 2016 in partnership with Chinese business BYD, the new version forms part of the Larbert-based manufacturer’s in-house zero-emissions range alongside the Enviro100EV and Enviro400EV.
Falcon Buses’ 37-seater examples are equipped with two wheelchair and buggy spaces, full air-conditioning for passengers and drivers, USB charging points at every seat, part-leather seating, wood-effect flooring and colour-coordinated handrails.
The vehicles use a heat pump system to provide climate control while also supporting the batteries and electric driveline. Alexander Dennis says the lightweight design of the Enviro200EV helps to reduce energy consumption.
Richard Telling, Managing Director of Falcon Buses, says the operator selected the Enviro200EV after attending Alexander Dennis’s track day event at Millbrook.
“We chose the next-generation Enviro200EV for our first electric buses after attending Alexander Dennis’s track days event at Millbrook,” he says.
“We were looking at our initial steps for going zero-emission with support of Surrey County Council at the time, and I just loved the product, especially the futuristic looks and the new styling.
“Our relationship with Alexander Dennis is really good, underpinned by our existing fleet of 58 Enviro200 low-emission buses, and we look forward to continuing that with our electric buses.
“Our Enviro200EV give us a comfortable, quiet ride that is enhanced by amazing air-conditioning.
“These buses are going to be very popular with our drivers as well as our passengers.”
Mark Taylor, Regional Sales Manager at Alexander Dennis, describes the order as “a significant statement of confidence in the product, in electric bus technology, and in the role that independent operators will play in delivering cleaner, quieter and more efficient public transport.”
He adds that the Enviro200EV carries forward the practicality, dependability and efficiency that made the diesel Enviro200 “the backbone” of Falcon’s fleet into a zero-emission platform designed for intensive daily operation.
Charging infrastructure at Falcon Buses’ West Byfleet depot has been installed by VEV.
The project includes a dedicated 1,500kVA power supply, six 60kW chargers and three 120kW chargers, with a second phase of infrastructure already planned to support the operator’s future fleet electrification.
Barry Keane, Senior Account Manager at VEV, says the installation has been designed to provide both the charging capacity needed for current operations and the capability to support Falcon Buses’ longer-term zero-emission ambitions.
He says: “This project is about more than installing chargers. It’s about giving operators the confidence that they have the power, charging capability and future capacity needed to transition to zero-emission transport without compromising reliability.
“Every successful electric bus transition starts with the right infrastructure. At Falcon Buses, we’ve delivered a charging solution that’s designed not only for today’s operations, but for tomorrow’s ambitions.”
The chargers will be managed by VEV IQ, which will optimise power usage to ensure maximum efficiency, while scheduling charging to take place at lower-cost times of night.
VEV is set to increase charging capacity at the depot later this year to five 120kW chargers, five 60kW chargers and two 50kW chargers to support Falcon Buses’ long-term aims.
