Reading Buses takes Enviro400EV orders to 32 with further batch

Reading Buses has confirmed an order for a further eight Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV battery-electric double-deckers, taking the total number of those vehicles due for the municipal operator to 32.

All are part-funded by the second round of the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme. The eight in the latter tranche are the fruits of a round of additional allocations by the Department for Transport in April.

The first 24 Enviro400EVs are currently in build and the eight additional examples will be delivered in 2026. Those subsequent arrivals will convert the yellow 26 route to zero-emission, following the move of the purple 17 and claret 21 services this summer.

All the battery-electric double-deckers will have saloon air-conditioning, high-backed seats with USB charging points, ‘social seating’ areas, and enhanced accessibility. 472kWh of energy storage has been specified with power taken via the heavy-duty iteration of the Voith Electrical Drive System.

Speaking about the second Enviro400EV order with Alexander Dennis, Reading Buses CEO Robert Williams says: “We were delighted to gain the opportunity to extend our plans for zero-emission buses in the Reading area and look forward to the improvement in customer experience that the new buses are expected to deliver on our network of brightly coloured 24/7 urban bus services.

“Our detailed specification includes café-style flooring, high-back seats with USB charging, social seating, no rattly items, a glazed staircase and rooflights, LED mood lighting, two wheelchair user bays, and audio-visual next stop information.”

Alexander Dennis Regional Sales Manager Mark Taylor has thanked Reading Buses for the further order.

“We are delighted that another eight next-generation Alexander Dennis Enviro400EVs will take the Reading Buses electric fleet to 32 by next year, delivering smoother journeys and cleaner air,” says Mr Taylor.

“This order is also good news for the wider British economy, with UK government funding being reinvested in domestic manufacturing that will benefit local communities in places where Alexander Dennis operates, as well as through our extensive supply chain.”