More Zeelo partner operators will be able to take part in trials of battery-electric coaches following a successful taster programme that has already seen one operator purchase its own example.
West Midlands-based LandFlight is one of six operators which trialled a Yutong TCe12 as part of a collaboration between Zeelo, Zenobe and Pelican. LandFlight Director Danny Matthews was sufficiently impressed to take the decision to purchase one of the same Yutong models. Meanwhile, corporate and school-run specialist Zeelo is to extend the programme by three months until the end of December.
As part of the scheme, the operators used the Zeelo-branded coach, supplied by Pelican and owned by Zenobe, which also provided the charging infrastructure.
Mr Matthews, who calculates the zero-emission vehicle will lead to a cut of 50,000kgs of CO2 output for the operation annually, says: “We have clients who were pushing us to go in that direction so we thought, as we liked the product, ‘let’s push the boat out and see how we get on’.
“Now the weather’s OK, the range is what it’s expected to be — 200 miles. It reduces by about 20% in really cold weather. It’s working for corporate shuttles, which are at peak periods so in between we have time to charge.”
He is keen to help the environment, although he adds “time will tell” as to whether it represents a good business decision, given the higher cost of the vehicle and uncertainty with regards how the battery will perform over the years to come.
“It’s very much dipping our toe in the water,” he adds. “It’s the way to go, but there still are some limitations to it. Infrastructure hasn’t really caught up with what we’re looking at doing.”
Roy McCarthy Coaches of Macclesfield is another Zeelo partner to have used the Yutong. Co-director Max McCarthy says the vehicle seemed to have fewer maintenance requirements than a diesel equivalent, although the engineers would need training. He noted reductions in seating capacity and luggage space.
However, a 90-mile journey was observed to save £11 in costs versus a Euro VI diesel equivalent. Customers seemed positive but Mr McCarthy is doubtful they would pay a premium to travel electric.
“Is an electric coach the solution?” he ponders. “For certain coaches, yes, but unfortunately not for all diesel coaches. In our fleet of 11, I can see us being able to swap one to electric, the main issue being seating capacity.”
Marett’s Chariots Director Anthony Marett says of its learnings from the Zeelo opportunity: “We think once a coach can travel 400 miles between charges, which means it could cover 80% of our work on one charge, we would be interested in looking at getting one.”
South Yorkshire-based Wilfreda Beehive was pleased to have the opportunity to gain more insights into electric coaches. Director Phil Haxby says: “Our valued partnership with Zeelo allowed us to trial the full battery-electric coach in our daily, regular operation for a period of time that was long enough to really assess the feasibility and suitability to bring one into the fleet.”
Sonia Afzal, Zeelo Head of Communications, reports that 98% of travellers on the platform prefer electric vehicles. “Our operator partners are now proactively reaching out to us to enquire about financing schemes and plan electric routes with us,” she says. Zeelo, which aside from the trials has 5% of its client contracts on electric, had a goal to make that 15% by the end of the year but now believes it could be met earlier.
