National Express West Midlands has completed rollout of a further 170 battery-electric BYD Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV double-deckers, taking its fleet of those vehicles to 329, or almost a quarter of buses in use with the operator.
The 170 examples are part of a £95 million investment. National Express West Midlands says it plans to operate a fully zero-emission fleet by 2030, and to support the growing shift it has continued to upgrade depot facilities. The 87-year-old Yardley Wood facility has seen significant modernisation, and similar work at Perry Bar is due for completion shortly.
Zenobē is supporting the battery-electric rollout by providing an end-to-end Electric Transport as a Service, or ETaaS, solution. That includes financing the buses and their batteries to guarantee performance, and replacing that energy storage at the end of its first life.
The supplier has also installed rapid chargers at depots and integrated its proprietary software platform to help monitor and optimise energy usage, as well as providing parts and operational support.
Traction batteries at the end of their first life when removed from electric buses are used at depots by Zenobē to maximise efficiency by storing energy for release during peak charging periods.
Globally, Zenobē has 1,134MW of battery storage assets in operation or under construction. It supports over 2,000 electric vehicles across 120 depots.
Speaking about the ongoing move away from diesel, National Express West Midlands Bus Strategy and Commercial Director Antony Goozee says: “Replacing our diesel buses with electric vehicles are key steps towards operating a fully zero-emission bus fleet by 2030.
“These new clean, green double-decker buses are not just about improving efficiency and reducing our environmental impact; they also deliver a better experience for our passengers with quieter, smoother and more comfortable journeys.”
On procurement of further battery-electric buses, a spokesperson for the operator would not be drawn on potential builders but says that it is “continually exploring the market to identify manufacturers and products capable of meeting our high standards and supporting the future of our zero-emission fleet in the West Midlands.”
Zenobē Co-Founder Director Steven Meersman notes how the partnership with National Express West Midlands began several years ago, with the first 19 buses entering service in July 2020.
“From procuring vehicles and on-board batteries to designing and managing charging infrastructure, we have delivered a fully tailored, end-to-end solution at Yardley Wood that supports National Express’s bold ambitions and meets its long-term operational goals.”
