The Coach Tourism Association (CTA) has hosted its first seminar on zero-emission coaches, beginning the conversation for its members on the journey towards cleaner drivelines.
Delegates at the Hilton Hotel in Borehamwood on 24 July heard from Ian Downie, Head of Yutong UK at Pelican Bus and Coach, and Ian Foley, Company Founder and Managing Director of Equipmake, who both presented current battery-electric solutions for the coach market: New build, in the form of the battery-electric Yutong TCe12 and the anticipated tri-axle GTe14 set to arrive in Q1 of next year, as well as retrofit solutions, as demonstrated by Equipmake’s battery-electric repower of a Westway Van Hool T917.
Benefits of zero-emission coaches extolled by Ian Downie included quietness, superior reliability over diesel drivetrains, and cross-collaboration of Pelican Yutong’s ‘Team Zero’ scheme, where members are allowed to use other members’ charging facilities.
Mr Foley, meanwhile, reminded delegates of the mounting pressure to find zero-emission solutions amid the continuing growth and scope of emission control zones. He is confident that “incremental developments” will continue to help meet operational needs.
However, audience members raised questions about how soon it will be before coaches can be scheduled confidently on tours, knowing that charging infrastructure will meet demands, and how venues and destinations plan to support the decarbonisation journey.
CTA Chairman Robert Shaw welcomed the presentations and how they “explained the implications” of the need for zero-emission coach travel in simple terms.
“We’re starting on the journey, but there’s still a long way to go,” he adds. “There were some sceptics in the room, which is understandable. There are a lot of bridges still to cross. But the indications are good, and with the sheer number of zero-emission coaches already on our roads, today was helpful in providing some of the information to coach tour operators. Attractions and destinations are part of the journey and it’s essential they’re aware of the need to provide charging facilities.”
Mr Foley expresses that history has shown that technology grows exponentially and will soon meet operation demands, adding: “Understandably, people are grappling with how to cope with a transition that is inevitably happening, but we can’t answer all the questions today.”
Adds Mr Downie: “We have had very positive engagement from the audience, where we looked at the two alternatives – new build and retrofit. We’re proud that we now have two products that will enable the coach industry to decarbonise, and that demonstrates [Pelican’s] ongoing commitment to this important sector.”
