Transport UK London Bus has seen the arrival of 12 Wrightbus GB Kite Electroliner battery-electric single-deckers that have been financed by Asset Alliance Group.
The 10.9m buses each have 454kWh of energy storage and are on seven-year operating leases. They are in use on Transport for London (TfL) route R70 between Hampton and Twickenham and can carry up to 60 passengers.
Almost one-third of the Transport UK London Bus fleet of 900 is now battery-electric. The latest arrivals continue the business’s procurement of such vehicles manufactured by Wrightbus.
Commercial Director Alastair Willis notes that the seven-year operating lease duration benefits the company as it aligns with the TfL contract length. The deal is the operator’s first deal with Asset Alliance Group.
The supplier “has impressed us, with Martyn Bellis and Anthony Jones listening and understanding our specific needs, proposing a flexible, competitive option at an attractive rate that does not tie us in long term,” adds Mr Willis.
The buses are to a high specification and have high-backed seats with additional padding, wood-effect flooring, and USB charging points. High-resolution passenger information displays are fitted and the driver benefits from a seat that is heated and cooled.
Mr Bellis, who is Asset Alliance Group Commercial Director for Coach and Bus, says: “We were pleased to be able to assist Transport UK London Bus with its ongoing transformation. This latest deal underlines the key role that Asset Alliance Group is playing in facilitating the uptake of electric buses in the capital on behalf of the major bus operators and TfL.”
