Brighton and Hove Buses has taken delivery of the first examples of the Alexander Dennis Enviro400ER. 30 of the extended range hybrid electric buses will enter service in October.
Thanks to additional onboard energy storage when compared to a standard hybrid, the buses will run in zero-emission mode in central Brighton. Geofencing will be utilised to ensure that they comply. A diesel engine will charge the batteries when the buses are outside the zero-emission area.
When launched on route 5, the operator says the buses will collectively cover 133,104 emission-free miles per year. It has painted them in a special livery to enable them to stand out from the rest of its fleet.
Adding the Alexander Dennis Enviro400ER buses is “an important part of our commitment to making the city of Brighton and Hove a clear air city, with zero emissions by 2030,” says MD Martin Harris.
The buses mark a continuation of the Go-Ahead Group’s efforts to reduce its environmental impact.
Last year at its Go South Coast subsidiary’s Bluestar operation it unveiled a bus with air filtering equipment operation. The unit’s success led to the decision to fit more vehicles with the kit.
