Transdev Blazefield subsidiary The Harrogate Bus Company is evaluating a Yutong E10 battery-electric bus borrowed from Go North East’s Voltra fleet. It is part of the group’s evaluation of future investment policy post-pandemic.
Use of the E10 on a service between Harrogate and Knaresborough follows a similar trial in October 2020 of a BYD ADL Enviro200EV model. Results from both vehicles will be compared, the operator says. The Harrogate Bus Company already runs a fleet of opportunity-charged Volvo 7900E battery-electric buses.
Transdev Blazefield CEO Alex Hornby says that in addition to the vehicle trial in Harrogate, the group is “in discussions with Yutong dealership Pelican Bus and Coach” and that the evaluation work will “help us to develop our aspirations for future investment as we look to make informed choices for electric power.
“We are constantly looking to build buses back better as part of our strategy for our company and industry, demonstrating our belief that our buses will continue to play a vitally important role beyond the current pandemic in boosting the economy, both locally in Harrogate and across Yorkshire and the north of England.”
Yutong’s E10 has a battery capacity of 422kW/h, delivering a range of 370km.