Go North East has become the first operator to place the next-generation Alexander Dennis Enviro200EV battery-electric single-deck into service. Four 10.9m examples are working route X66 between Gateshead Interchange and the Metrocentre.
They are 37-seaters and were built at the manufacturer’s plant in Scarborough. The buses operate from Riverside depot in Gateshead and have 400kWh of energy storage. Go North East’s established Voltra brand for zero-emission vehicles is carried and the Enviro200EVs each have a camera monitoring system in lieu of conventional mirrors.
Recently-appointed Managing Director Ben Gilligan says that being the first operator to put the Enviro200EV into service is part of a desire on the operator’s part to be “at the forefront of sustainable bus travel.”
Adds Alexander Dennis President and Managing Director Paul Davies: “We are delighted to see the first next-generation Enviro200EV launched at Go North East, marking the introduction into passenger service of a brand new, British-built electric single-deck bus.
“Designed with lightweight principles and featuring a new interior, these buses will set new standards for efficiency and passenger experience. We are grateful to the Go-Ahead Group for its trust in our product as one of the first customers to choose the new Enviro200EV.”
Power in the model is from the Vehicle Electrical Drive System from Driventic. In previously detailing the Enviro200EV, Alexander Dennis claimed that it is up to 2,000kg lighter than comparable models, something that will have a consequential benefit for energy usage.
The X66 buses are part of a £17 million joint investment from Go North East, the North East Combined Authority and the Department for Transport. Under that same approach, 25 Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliner battery-electric double-decks were recently introduced.
