The first zero-emission coaches for operators in the North of England have been handed over, with a further example for one of those operators to follow early in 2023.
Coatham Coaches of Saltburn-by-the-Sea and Swans Travel of Chadderton were each presented with their respective Yutong TCe12s at Euro Bus Expo. Swans has a second on order, while the first example has debuted a refreshed brand for the Greater Manchester business.
Both the existing coaches, and the forthcoming example for Swans, are for corporate contracts. Coatham Coaches will use its example seven days per week on a shuttle for a client with policies that require a reduction in car traffic to its site. The customer asked Coatham if it could provide a zero-emission vehicle “and we said yes,” says the operator’s Managing Director Mark Hodgson (pictured above, left).
Mr Hodgson adds that there are early signs of demand for the same from other customers, with the wider focus on net zero industry on Teesside a key to that. He thus does not rule out further TCe12s in the future.
Coatham Coaches has taken a 42kW portable charger from vehicle supplier Pelican Bus and Coach to work with the first TCe12. The charger works with a 60A, three-phase workshop supply. Coatham previously assessed a demonstrator TCe12, and Mr Hodgson says that vehicle was well received by drivers.
Swans’ first TCe12 will be used for a corporate client in Cheshire.
Day-to-day charging will be undertaken at the customer’s site, which has suitable equipment. The second TCe12 for Swans is expected in March 2023.
“The coach industry has to be first foot forward with zero-emission,” says Swans Travel Managing Director Elise Robertson (lower picture, left). “Let’s lead the way, but not by pressuring clients. Instead, we should find a way to interest them in the technology.”
Swans held back the debut of its new brand until the first TCe12 was ready, she adds. It will be rolled out across the remainder of the fleet in due course.
