Carmarthenshire County Council has ordered eight Yutong E12 battery-electric buses for the electrification of TrawsCymru route T1 between Aberystwyth and Carmarthen. They are expected to be delivered before the end of 2022 and will be supplied by Pelican Bus and Coach.
Work on charging infrastructure for the new fleet is already in hand. Pelican says the E12s for TrawsCymru T1 will be the first battery-electric buses in the UK capable of accepting 240kW of plug-in charging. As previously explained by Head of Yutong Bus UK Ian Downie, that will be via dual connections of 120kW each. The buses will come with the standard 422kW/h of onboard energy storage and an enhanced battery management system.
Procurement has been via a competitive tendering process. The E12s for Carmarthenshire will complement six other E12s that have already been built for TrawsCymru routes in North Wales and they will be equipped with enhanced seating, air-conditioning, wi-fi, USB charging and high-specification passenger information displays. Rear-view cameras from 21st Century in place of mirrors also form part of the specification.
Additionally, the Carmarthenshire buses will be equipped with the Yutong Electrical Safety System. It is a flagship part of the manufacturer’s work on battery-electric buses and is designed to remove any risk of battery fire.
Says Mr Downie: “We are delighted and honoured to have been awarded this prestigious contract by Carmarthenshire County Council. The specification that it has stipulated for the buses will be unique in the UK and take passenger comfort to the next level.”
Adds Carmarthenshire County Council Head of Transportation and Highways Stephen Pilliner: “We are delighted to be working with the Welsh Government and Transport for Wales on this vanguard project for South West Wales. These buses will provide passengers with a modern service that will decarbonise transport and provide and attractive public transport operation for customers.”
Service T1 is currently operated by First Cymru, with buses allowed around 140 minutes to complete the approximately 55-mile one-way trip. Purchase of the Yutongs continues the marque’s dominance of the market thus far for zero-emission buses in Wales.
