Two of four BYD ADL Enviro200EV battery-electric buses in 10.2m length have entered service with Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) in Mansfield.
BYD says the 10.2m examples of the joint Alexander Dennis (ADL) and BYD offering, which were handed over to NCC on 10 December, represent the first vehicles of their kind to enter operation outside of London. They will offer a total capacity for 77 passengers.
The first two buses to enter service join the local authority’s growing fleet of ECOconnect buses operated by Stagecoach East Midlands. The remaining two buses will enter service elsewhere in Nottinghamshire sometime in 2022.
The Lindhurst Group, which represents a team of environmental consultants and development specialists delivering an urban extension in Berry Hill, has contributed towards the running of two of the new buses, as they will operate on the Berry Hill Flyer 240 route. The buses will connect the new development with Mansfield.
Matt Cranwell, Stagecoach East Midlands Managing Director, says: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to work alongside Nottinghamshire County Council to help deliver a new eco-friendly bus service to the Mansfield area. The Berry Hill Flyer forms part of our commitment to support targets to reduce emissions and provide a cleaner, healthier environment.”
Adds ADL Sales Account Manager Lee Salt: “It is great to see NCC’s continued investment in zero-emission buses. It is only fitting that a new community like Berry Hill should be served by the latest and most environmentally-friendly British-built buses, which ensures that skilled jobs and apprenticeships are supported at our facilities as well as across our extensive domestic supply chain.
“We look forward to seeing the next two buses on the road and supporting their operation with our best-in-class aftermarket provision.”
This delivery represents NCC’s second electric bus order for BYD and ADL. The first was in 2018 when the manufacturers provided two 10.8m BYD ADL Enviro200EVs.
“I am delighted that we have been able to add more ultra-low emission buses to serve the people of Mansfield and to help reduce our carbon footprint,” says NCC Leader, Cllr Ben Bradley MP. “I announced a climate emergency pledge at the start of the new administration; this is something I am totally committed to. Zero-emission buses will help drive forward the county’s progress on its net zero ambitions. I want to make greener travel the convenient choice so people can leave their cars at home.
“I’m ambitious to transform bus services across the county and by working in partnership we can access our share of the government’s £3bn funding. So far we have invested £2.4m in six electric buses and charging infrastructure all of which produce zero exhaust emissions meaning that residents and passengers will benefit from cleaner air along the routes.”
Adds Mansfield Executive Mayor Andy Abrahams: “This is a fantastic early Christmas present for both Mansfield and our environment. Making Mansfield cleaner and greener is a key priority for us and it’s great that the thousands of residents living at Berry Hill can leave their cars at home knowing that their bus journey is creating zero-emissions.”
