Bus and Coach Professional - February 2021

February 2021

Issue 423

driving towards a greener future

Hydrogen doubledecks in Aberdeen

comment Bus and Coach Professional is published by Plum Publishing Ltd

Editorial Steve Rooney steve.rooney@busandcoach.com

Contact address: Bus and Coach Professional Plum Publishing Ltd, Unit 4 Marshbrook Business Park Church Stretton SY6 6QE Telephone: 01694 731510 www.busandcoach.com

Every care is taken over the accuracy of material in Bus and Coach Professional but the publishers cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions.

Views and opinions of contributors to Bus and Coach Professional are not necessarily those of the publishers who cannot accept responsibility for such contributions. © Plum Publishing Limited 2021

February 2021

Too much choice in the trade association space?

AND then there were three. The often uneasy relationship between the bus and coach fraternity within the UK industry’s trade body CPT has finally broken down, to some degree at least. Faced with the immense challenges caused by enduring lockdowns with little if any work for many coach operators, some have taken the view that the time is right to establish new ways of getting their voices heard.

CPT has faced regular criticism from some sectors of the coaching community for what they perceived as CPT being slow to react and not forceful enough in presenting coach operators as a special case that needed support since their vehicles were forced to lie idle in the yard, while bus operators received public subsidy to run minimum services.

To be fair, CPT did put forward a number of proposals, but they fell on deaf ears. In the end, at least to date, the UK government has firmly rejected all ideas for a sector-specific deal for coach operators in England, although operators in Scotland and Northern Ireland have succeeded in their lobbying. Nonetheless, some operators have decided this was their ‘last straw’ and have thrown in their lot with the Road Haulage Association to establish a new body to represent coach operators, while the erstwhile London Tourist Coach Operators Association has morphed into the UK Coach Operators Association with a country-wide remit and ambition to cover the full gamut of coach operational interests.

My gut instinct is that having three bodies essentially occupying the same space cannot be a good outcome for anyone, least of all coach operators. But we are where we are.

The two new bodies, or one new and one newly-expanded to be more accurate, will have their work cut out to establish viable organisations and hit the ground running. Their new members are expecting results, perhaps much more quickly than is realistic.

The opening press conference by UKCOA certainly offered an impressive line-up of leading operators arguing their case, and their ‘run by coach operators for coach operators’ tag line is a compelling slogan. The RHA may have a bigger hill to climb in terms of convincing coach operators to rally behind an organisation run by truckers. It does have the resources to throw at it, if it is so inclined, although presumably the coach section will need to be self-supporting as RHA truck operator members are unlikely to look kindly on long-term cross subsidy.

It would be fascinating to be a fly on the wall in a future meeting with ministers and officials in the DfT, opposite representatives from three ‘competing’ coach organisations. I can’t help feeling that there will be a lot of paper shuffling on the ministerial side while they wait for the other side to argue between themselves and then call the meeting to a close and go off and do exactly what they had always planned to.

Of course, three coach bodies could work closely together and present a united front; but then why wouldn’t they all come together within one organisation?

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in this issue comment 5-9 news • Volvo Buses receives order new double-deck coaches • Go-Ahead trains mental health first aiders across all its bus companies • New Sky Class buses welcomed in East Lancashire and Manchester

5-9 news • Stagecoach proposes new partnership for post-Covid rebound in Manchester • Wrightbus expands Ballymena workforce

10 technology • First Bus achieves retrofit of 1,000 buses • Camira launches Camira StaySafe

16 people • Andy Warrender takes up new role at RHA Coaches • New appointments at Stagecoach South • Obituary: Bill Cottham 1944-2021

18-27 green • RATP France starts Caetano hydrogen bus trial • VDL Bus & Coach delivers 12 electric Citeas to Germany • ADL and Kiwi Bus Builders welcome New Zealand funding • BYD gears-up for Bus2Grid at Go-Ahead London • Arriva Group’s first hydrogen bus order in The Netherlands • Aberdeen hydrogen double-decks go into operation • TransLink to take 15 electric buses LFSe+ from Nova Bus

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February 2021

news

Volvo Buses receives order for 22 of its new double-deck coach

KEOLIS has ordered 22 of the new double-deck coach from Volvo Buses. The Volvo 9700 DDs will be used for express services between Gothenburg and Borås from December 2021.

The new double-decks are the latest addition to Volvo Buses’ model range of coaches with premium features.

The coach model comes in several different variants for express and tourist services.

“The demand for comfortable, safe and reliable express coaches with a high capacity and productivity is growing,” says Ulf Mag-

nusson, senior vice president, Volvo Buses.

“Fuel efficiency and the possibility of using renewable fuels, such as HVO and RME, are also becoming more important for many operators. With our flexible range of products and services, we can supply a complete, high-quality, customised solution that meets our customers’ needs extremely well.”

Karl Orton, fleet director, Keolis says passenger comfort was also an important criteria in its choice of an express coach: “Volvo Buses meets the high expectations that

both we and our customers have of modern public transport.

“This is a partnership where both Keolis and Volvo will do their utmost to offer safe, punctual and comfortable journeys between Gothenburg and Borås over the next 10 years.”

The Volvo 9700 DD has the capacity for up to 96 passengers and is equipped with wi-fi and every seat has a USB port. The chassis are manufactured at the Volvo Buses plant in Borås and the bodies are built by Carrus Delta Oy in Finland. www.volvobuses.com

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news

Go-Ahead trains mental health first aiders across all its bus companies

GO-AHEAD is training a mental health first aider at each of its UK and Irish bus companies as part of its long-term commitment to employee mental health.

Go-Ahead points out that 90 per cent of its bus workforce is male, and that men are more likely to have lower levels of life satisfaction than women and are less likely to access mental health support services according to research.

The group aims to tackle this by ensuring that mental health is discussed openly across its companies and to direct colleagues to resources and support available.

Brighton & Hove Buses started its mental health initiative in 2020, putting forward more than ten colleagues for mental health first aid

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training. These colleagues have played an instrumental part in supporting the city’s bus workers during the pandemic.

In-house mental health first aider training has to date been completed by participants at the Oxford Bus Company, Go South West, Go South Coast, Go-Ahead London, Go North West and GoAhead Ireland.

Other Go-Ahead companies such as Go North East and Go East Anglia will soon be going through the training.

The training gives an in-depth understanding of mental health, allowing people the practical skills to spot triggers, reassure a person in distress and guide individuals to further appropriate support.

Go-Ahead London is also training managers and colleagues on mental health awareness in conjunction with Transport for London.

“The pandemic has hit mental health hard across the country and it’s difficult to find someone who hasn’t been affected,” says Sam Facey, Go-Ahead head of safety.

“It is our duty as an employer to ensure that our colleagues know what support is available.

“By training a representative in each of our bus companies as a mental health first aider, we can start to tackle the stigma surrounding mental health by providing and practical and emotional support.” www.go-ahead.com

February 2021

news

New Sky Class buses welcomed in East Lancashire and Manchester

A £3.8million investment by Transdev in luxury ‘Sky Class’ buses for its key link between East Lancashire and Manchester aims to prepare for the region’s recovery beyond the Covid-19 pandemic.

The new fleet of 14 double-deck vehicles, built to Transdev’s latest ‘Sky Class’ specification, entered service a month ago on the Witchway express between Burnley, Rawtenstall and Manchester.

And despite the current Government restrictions on non-essential travel, East Lancashire’s politicians are optimistic that the investment February 2021

will pay dividends when customers are able to return.

Burnley MP Antony Higginbotham says: “I’m delighted to see this major investment by Transdev - local transport connections have such an important role to play in levelling up, across not only Burnley and Padiham but the whole county of Lancashire.

“Our daily journeys for work or leisure are about so much more than just getting from A to B – they are the key to accessing skilled jobs and opportunities, boosting local businesses and unlocking

economic growth, and that’s particularly the case for this service linking Burnley with Manchester.”

Transdev CEO Alex Hornby says: “Bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis describes our Witchway buses as the highest specification they’ve ever been asked to build, and that was our vision from the outset. We believe our unique ‘Sky Class’ specification will attract people to switch from the car and train, by creating buses people are proud to be seen on.” https://www.transdevbus.co.uk/ witchway

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news

Stagecoach proposes new partnership for post-Covid rebound in Manchester

WITH one eye on the proposals from the region’s mayor to introduce bus franchising, Stagecoach has set out a package of proposed partnership measures in Greater Manchester which it says will help the post-Covid acceleration of bus use in the region.

The operator has proposed a two-year programme of measures delivered jointly by the public and private sector, and says a series of pilot projects in the region could help deliver the planned National Bus Strategy for England, which is due to be published within the next few months.

Before Covid, buses accounted for around 50 per cent of all journeys on public transport, with

more than 4 billion journeys a year made by bus in England. In Greater Manchester, some 75 per cent of all public transport journeys have continued to be made by bus despite the pandemic.

But car use has returned rapidly in regions around the country and, despite the latest lockdown measures, is at 57 per cent of pre-Covid levels, compared with 27 per cent for bus use.

Stagecoach’s plan envisages a new combined public and private sector Partnership Board, chaired by the mayor to develop bus improvement plans in the Greater Manchester city region.

This would help deliver faster bus journeys in the city cen-

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tre through bus infrastructure improvements, an accelerated roll out of more electric buses and the expansion of flexible ticket options to reflect changed travel patterns during Covid-19, simplifying fare types and further integrating bus tickets with tram.

Lee Wasnidge, managing director, Stagecoach Manchester, says: “There is a huge opportunity for the bus to drive a re-energised country coming out of the Covid19 pandemic. We’ve seen in 2020 what our country can achieve when we all pull together. We can build on that spirit of partnership as we move forward in 2021 and beyond.” www.stagecoachbus.com

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February 2021

news

Wrightbus ups Ballymena workforce WRIGHTBUS is creating more than 40 new jobs at its Ballymena factory in preparation for increasing production this year to support the PM’s pledge for at least 4,000 new zero emission buses to be produced during this parliament.

A recruitment drive will see it employ 46 new members of production and office staff, including coachbuilders, spray painters,

welders, electrical engineers, technicians, accountants, sales staff and a project manager. Nineteen of the positions will be apprenticeships, and an international project engineer role has also been created as the firm looks to increase export sales.

Wrightbus CEO Jo Bamford says: “There’s no doubt that 2020 was a challenging year for every-

one for many reasons. We have made huge strides in 2020, despite the year being paralysed by the coronavirus pandemic, yet 2021 is going to be the year hydrogen really makes its mark.

“This recruitment will help us support the Government’s investment pledge for at least 4,000 zero emission buses in the UK.” www.wrightbus.com

West Yorkshire calls for urgent government support for local buses THE West Yorkshire Combined Authority is asking the Government to work with it urgently to support bus services as an essential part of the region’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Analysis commissioned by the Combined Authority suggests when emergency funding expires in March the gap between the cost of providing bus services in

West Yorkshire and income will be £1.5million per week until passengers can return in greater numbers.

In a letter to transport secretary Grant Shapps, the Combined Authority sets out the actions it has already taken in partnership with operators through the West Yorkshire Bus Alliance and calls on the government to use its forth-

coming National Bus Strategy to streamline the process of creating an Enhanced Bus Partnership and support investment in low emissions vehicles. It also asks for the delegation of funding to the Combined Authority to build on the joint management of bus services with operators during the pandemic. www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk

LTCOA becomes UKCOA in bid to represent operators across the country THE former LTCOA (London Tourist Coach Operators Association) has expanded its scope and unveiled a new name, the UK Coach Operators Association, as it bids to compete with CPT in representing the sector as a UK-wide trade association The organisation has recently recruited new members and now represents more than 50 companies comprising 1,500 vehicles and more than 2,500 people employed.

“During the very challenging year of 2020 the LTCOA continued to grow and evolve, with the majorFebruary 2021

ity of new members coming from outside the London area,” says Stephen Telling, UKCOA chair.

“The membership suggested that we consider changing the name of the association to reflect that we are now a UK-wide organisation.

It also reflects that, as a result of the pandemic and the cessation of most work connected with tourism, that members require assistance on all other aspects of coach operation.”

The UKCOA stresses that it aims to continue to work with industry partners, including other

associations, to represent the views of its members and the coach industry to both local and central government.

Membership services will mirror CPT’s offering, including a crisis control centre, compliance assistance, a PSVAR working group, and will set up groups looking at future strategy for the coach industry in connection with clean air zones and Section 19 & 22 legislation and enforcement. www.uk-coa.co.uk/ launch-meeting-of-the-new-uk-coachoperators-association/

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technology

The latest products and services for the bus and coach sector

Camira launches Camira StaySafe

UK-BASED fabric manufacturer Camira has launched StaySafe, a new textile treatment which reduces the potential for viral transmission from wool moquette fabrics in bus and coach interiors. When applied to a fabric, the treatment destroys viruses and kills bacteria, ensuring upholstery does not act as a potential source of transmission.

Camira says it is ideal for use on multi-occupancy seating in busy public transport settings, such as city buses, long-distance coaches,

shuttle buses and minibuses.

Camira StaySafe is a combination of silver and liposome technologies which firstly attract a virus, then attack the virus membrane, depleting it of cholesterol and allowing the silver to kill the entire virus.

Independently tested to ISO 18184 and AATCC 147, Camira says it reduces viral activity on wool moquette fabrics by 97 per cent and provides an enhanced layer of protection to bus and coach interiors.

“We’re extremely proud to bring this new textile treatment to our customers – the product of rigorous research and independent testing,” says Amanda Heeley, Camira director of operations and quality.

“Available on our popular plush wool moquette fabrics, Camira StaySafe provides incredibly high anti- viral and anti-bacterial effectiveness and, during a time in which hygiene and health are of critical concern, this has never been more important.”

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technology

The latest products and services for the bus and coach sector

First Bus completes UK retrofit programme of 1,000 buses

FIRST Bus says it has reached a significant milestone in its air quality retrofit programme, completing the refit of 1,000 buses across its UK network with new exhaust systems and e-fans to comply with Euro VI emission requirements.

The £16million retrofitting programme has been delivered in partnership with the Joint Air Quality Unit of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Transport, local authorities, Transport Scotland and suppliers Eminox, HJS and Grayson.

The milestone has been completed in just over two years and the 1,000th bus was retrofitted in Manchester. Alongside scheduling challenges due to the Covid-19

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pandemic, First Bus has worked to ensure that operations have continued with limited interruption to customers during the retrofitting programme.

“We are committed to doing everything we can to make our buses as environmentally friendly as they can be for the communities we serve,” says John Dowie, First Bus strategy director. “We’re proud to have achieved this milestone at the turn of the year, highlighting the ongoing work of our engineering teams. We estimate that each retrofit reduces air pollutants and harmful emissions by up to 95 per cent, and this makes a considerable positive impact to air quality for our towns and cities.

Bus services will be a fundamental

part of economic recovery as the UK starts to emerge from the pandemic.”

First Bus’ recently-appointed head of environmentment Jon Tivey adds: “First Bus has been on the trajectory towards a zeroemission bus fleet for a few years and I’ve joined at an exciting time for the business and the industry as we look to decarbonise public transport and significantly contribute to the green recovery.

“The retrofitting milestone is a great reminder that the environment is an ongoing focus for the business. The retrofitting programme is one way in which we can significantly reduce harmful emissions on our roads.”

www.firstbus.com

February 2021

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TfL says its 9,000+ bus fleet now meets or exceeds Euro VI

ALL buses in Transport for London’s 9,000-strong bus fleet now meet or exceed the cleanest Euro VI emissions standards. TfL says this major milestone has significantly reduced the contribution from buses to transport-related NOx emissions, with the proportion of transport NOx emissions coming from TfL’s buses reducing from 15 per cent to just four per cent.

Since 2017, TfL has worked to phase out some diesel buses and to retrofit older buses with cleaner engines. Now completed, this will see harmful NOx emissions from buses fall by an average of 90 per cent.

In the coming years, air quality will be further improved by moving towards a zero-emission bus network and helping to meet the mayor’s zero carbon target by 2030.

Around £85million has been invested in retrofitting older diesel buses to meet or exceed the Euro

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VI emissions standards since 2017.

In addition, 12 Low Emission Bus Zones were created between 2017 and 2019 to tackle the worst air quality hotspots outside central London, by concentrating cleaner Euro VI buses on the most polluting routes. The zones included high streets and town centres in Brixton, Haringey and Putney, and were introduced one year ahead of target.

The routes helped transform local air quality with a 98 per cent reduction in hourly exceedances on Putney High Street since 2016, previously one of the most polluted parts of the capital.

More than 400 all-electric buses have also been introduced to date, and around 300 additional zeroemission buses are expected to join the fleet by the end of this year.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan says: “London’s toxic air is a public health crisis causing premature deaths and stunting the growth of children’s lungs. Today, as part of

our work to tackle the twin dangers of toxic air pollution and the climate emergency, I am proud that the entire TfL core bus fleet now meets the strictest emissions standards.”

Claire Mann, director of bus operations at TfL, adds: “Londoners deserve to breathe clean air.

Toxic air kills, reduces life quality and, as the pandemic has shown, leaves people more vulnerable to other threats.

“We’ve already seen how much retrofitted buses can clean up the air in busy London hotspots, and now with our retrofit programme complete on our core f leet the whole of the city will benefit from improved air quality.

“We will press ahead with our electrification programme and investments in other green technology to ensure all buses in London are zero emission by 2037 or hopefully, if additional financial support can be found, sooner.” www.tfl.gov.uk

February 2021

For all the latest vacancies visit – www.busandcoach.com

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Andy Warrender takes up new role at RHA Coaches FORMER CPT coaching manager Andy Warrender has been appointed as operations managercoach sector at the Road Haulage Association to head up its new RHA Coaches body which is challenging CPT and the newlyrebadged UK Coach Operators Association in the battle to rep-

resent coach operators to national and local government.

RHA managing director for commercial operations, Richard Smith says: “Our team of specialists cover every aspect of the UK commercial vehicle sector and we’re pleased to welcome Andy Warrender to the

team as our coach expert.

“Andy has been involved in passenger transport, predominantly in the coach industry, for more than 30 years, a career which has spanned roles on the road, in operations, bus and coach sales, vehicle manufacturing and marketing.”

Management appointments at Stagecoach South S TAG E C OAC H S out h h a s announced a number of new appointments within its bus business which serves Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex.

Katie Wagstaff is appointed operations manager in Basingstoke..

Mark Jackson is promoted to operations manager at Andover.

Nigel Lukowski is to become

assistant operations manager at Basingstoke.

Alec Bradley is promoted to the position of engineering manager at Worthing.

Paul Denne, engineering manager for Winchester & Andover will be retiring at the end of February 2021 having completed 50 years service with the company in 2020.

Simon Drewery will replace Paul as engineering manager for Winchester & Andover.

Drewery completed engineering apprenticeships with BAE Systems and Southern Vectis in the early 2000s; he was previously deputy engineering manager at Bromley depot in London, and assistant engineering manager at Basingstoke until earlier in 2020.

Obituary: Bill Cottham 1944-2021 A KEY figure in the public transport industry in the 1980s and 1990s, Bill Cottham has died in Portugal at the age of 76. Having lived for many years with Parkinson’s Disease, he died of pneumonia caused by COVID-19.

Bill Cottham was born in Liverpool in 1944 and, after leaving school at the age of 15, he joined Liverpool Corporation transport department as a messenger boy and then an engineering apprentice. In the early days of his career, friends and colleagues would have known him by his family name of George.

While working in the bus industry, Bill was awarded a first class degree in engineering from Liverpool University and he quickly progressed to senior positions at St Helens, Newport and Cleveland Transit. Later he gained a degree in February 2021

law from the University of London and joined Gray’s Inn. In 1983 he was appointed as director general of West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive and led the development of a freestanding commercial company, Yorkshire Rider, owned by the Passenger Transport Authority on the deregulation of the bus industry in 1986.

Cottham was instrumental in leading the buyout of Yorkshire Rider, the first of its kind in the local authority sector. The buyout took the form of an Employee Share Ownership Plan, unique in the industry at the time, which was supported by both politicians and trade unions. This structure was later replicated in employee buyouts in other local authorities.

During his time at Yorkshire Rider, Bill became president of the

then Bus & Coach Council (now CPT).

Yorkshire Rider was later sold to Badgerline (now FirstGroup) in 1994 and Cottham retired from full-time employment after the sale of Yorkshire Rider and became chairman of CentreWest in London from 1995 until 1998.

He and his wife Joan spent their retirement between their homes in Nevis, Florida and Portugal.

A natural leader with a strong innovative and decisive approach to the bus business, but with a humanity and warm sense of humour which won Cottham many friends throughout the industry. He was well respected and greatly admired by his colleagues. One of his favourite quotes was “The only mistake I ever made was when I thought I’d made a mistake and I hadn’t.

17

green

OUR PICK OF THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BUS AND COACH SECTOR

VDL Bus & Coach delivers 12 electric Citeas to German operators

THREE German operators have ordered 12 Citeas SLF-120 Electric between them from VDL Bus & Coach which will be delivered from the end of 2021. VDL Bus & Coach will deliver nine Citeas to KVG Braunschweig, two to Verdener Verkehrsgesellschaft and one to Stadtbus Goslar.

“The region-wide introduction of electric mobility is a major, forward-looking project for our regions of Verden, Goslar and Braunschweig,” says Axel Gierga, managing director, KVG Braunschweig, on behalf of the companies.

“This can only be achieved

18

with strong and experienced partners. That is why we’re looking forward to working with VDL Bus & Coach.

“With quiet, clean and emission-free buses in our fleet, we will contribute to achieving the targets of the European Clean Vehicle Directive and to improving the quality of life in our regions.”

The 12 Citeas SLF-120 Electric have a CCS charging point and are mainly charged at the depot.

The batteries have a capacity of 350kWh. Boris Höltermann, VDL Bus & Coach Deutschland, says: “More and more subsidies are becoming available, which has made the

choice of purchasing zero emission buses easier. If transport companies cooperate in a targeted way, their ability to act will naturally be even greater and cities will be able to implement their desired greening programmes faster and more effectively. As a European frontrunner in electric public transport and a sustainable cooperation partner, we can strengthen these projects.”

Since the first five VDL Citeas SLF-120 Electric were delivered to Münster in 2015, more than 100 vehicles in Germany have so far been delivered in fully electric mode. www.vdlbuscoach.com

February 2021

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OUR PICK OF THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BUS AND COACH SECTOR

RATP France starts Caetano hydrogen bus trial

R AT P g roup i s work i ng with CaetanoBus to test an H2.Cit yGold bus in Paris.

“Hydrogen is a key factor for the years to come,” says MarieClaude Dupuis, deputy managing director, RATP group. “This second experiment confirms RATP group’s desire to become a major player in the sector.”

The Caetano H2.CityGold, equipped with a Toyota fuel cell, will offer a range of 450km to match conventional diesel buses

and will be put into public service operation on routes 189 and 21.

The demonstration is designed to enable RATP to learn about the practical operation of hydrogen technology and provide inuse information of daily driving conditions with varying weather, usage, and traffic environments.

“While carbon-free mobility is required in European cities and territories, the electrification of common transport is necessary, especially with regard to buses,”

adds Frank Marotte, president and CEO of Toyota France. “Toyota’s approach is in line with this desire to develop zero-emission vehicles for the greatest number of people, relying on CaetanoBus’ long experience in offering public transport solutions.”

During the demonstration, the vehicle will be based at RATP’s depot in Fontenay-aux-Roses and it will be refuelled at Les Logesen-Josas station, south of Paris. www.salvadorcaetano.pt

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February 2021

green First New Generation Citea for ‘European Green Capital 2021’ Lahti

THE Finnish city of Lahti, this year’s European Green Capital, will have 18 Citeas LLE Electric in operation by the end of 2021 including the New Generation Citea. This follows an order in October 2020 for VDL Bus & Coach from Koiviston Auto Group which is responsible for public transport in Lahti, located more than 100km north of the capital, Helsinki.

“The most advanced electric bus in Europe will run in the European Green Capital 2021,” says Michael Andersson, technical director, Koiviston Auto Group. “This is a clear and February 2021

important signal for further electrification of Finnish public transport. Because this new Citea is part of the operation with the Citeas LLE Electric, we can see exactly how this new vehicle compares to the current generation of electric buses from VDL Bus & Coach.”

VDL’s bus concept has been developed entirely based on an electric driveline, ready for a future where zero emission is a matter of course.

The manufacturer will be announcing more details in the coming months and the buses will be on display for the first time during Busworld in Brussels from 9-14

October.

The New Generation Citea will consist of four length variants and will have a composite sidewall construction that VDL says is 15 per cent lighter than a conventional sidewall. The battery pack is integrated into the floor as standard to ensure better weight distribution and stability, and increase passenger capacity.

Since the introduction of the first Citea SLF-120 Electric during the UITP exhibition in 2013 in Geneva, VDL Bus & Coach now has more than 750 operating in ten countries. www.vdlbuscoach.com

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green

OUR PICK OF THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BUS AND COACH SECTOR

Aberdeen hydrogen double-decks go into operation

THE world’s first fleet of double decker hydrogen buses have been launched in Aberdeen by First Bus in a project led by Aberdeen City Council.

The zero-emission fleet emits only water from its exhaust as the fuel is made from just wind and water. And plans are in place for Aberdeen to make its own hydrogen to power the buses, making it an even greener energy source for the local community.

Aberdeen City Council coleader Jenny Laing, says: “It’s great to see the world’s first hydrogen double decker buses starting in Aberdeen.

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“The buses are a fantastic asset to the city as an entrepreneurial and technological leader as they have even more advanced technology which pushes established hydrogen boundaries and also greatly assist us in tackling air pollution in the city.”

The new 60-seat double-decks are set to save one kilogramme of CO2 for each kilometre they drive.

The buses will also tackle more than just air pollution, as they are virtually silent when they run, helping to create quieter streets.

Andrew Jarvis, managing director, First Bus, says: “Scotland will be home to COP26 later this year

and it is fantastic to know that we’ll be setting a stellar example of just what can be achieved with new technology as we welcome leaders from around the world.

“First Bus serves thousands of customers in Aberdeen and we know that so many of our customers take the bus because they care about our planet and reducing their carbon footprint.”

The £8.3million project has been funded by Aberdeen City Council, the Scottish Government, and the European Union, with an investment of about £500,000 per vehicle. www.firstgroup.com

February 2021

green BYD gears-up for Bus2Grid at GoAhead London

BYD says that plans are well advanced ahead of the switchingon of the world’s first high power discharge Bus2Grid project at Go-Ahead London’s Northumberland Park bus depot.

BYD UK and Alexander Dennis are supplying 28 Enviro400EV double-deck buses which will provide bi-directional charging capable of feeding energy back to the power grid.

The Bus2Grid consortium is led by energy provider SSE Enterprise in partnership with BYD Europe, UK Power Networks and Leeds University. Funding for the project comes from the UK government through its delivery partner, Innovate UK. Further support comes from technology provider, Origami and Transport for London. V2G enables stored February 2021

energy on-board a BYD ADL eBus to be fed back into London’s power network. Vehicles are recharged overnight when energy demand is low, and tariffs cheaper, with electricity fed back to the grid when demand is high, thus helping to balance the network and increase efficiency.

Go-Ahead London’s 28 V2G eBuses from BYD ADL will be part of a total fleet of 120 electric vehicles at what is set to become the UK’s largest electric bus garage with overnight charging capability at Northumberland Park.

“We share a vision with our project partners to deliver a cleaner, sustainable future,” says BYD UK managing director Frank Thorpe.

“We have a common goal to realise the full potential of eMobility.

Soon, we will be actually generat-

ing energy for London’s power grid, as well as delivering safe, clean, emissions-free public transport to the nation’s capital.”

Kevin Welstead, EV sector director, SSE Enterprise, adds: “If we’re going to make real progress in decarbonising transport and hitting climate change targets, we need to optimise the existing flexibility within the energy system.”

“Developing a charging infrastructure that operates in two directions so that batteries can give back as well as take from the grid is an important part of this.

Delivering the Bus2Grid project is the next natural step in using smart technology to make bidirectional charging the reality for today’s bus users.” www.byd.com

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green

OUR PICK OF THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BUS AND COACH SECTOR

Arriva Group places first hydrogen bus order in The Netherlands

FOLLOWING the signing of its first hydrogen bus agreement, Arriva is expecting delivery of ten buses in the Netherlands in December, with operations due to start in early 2022.

Arriva plans to replace diesel buses, providing hydrogenfuelled technology to journeys in Achterhoek, Gelderland, a region which is participating in the European JIVE2 programme (Joint Initiative for Hydrogen Vehicles) focusing on the promotion of emission-free public transport.

The buses are expected to travel over one million km a year.

The vehicles are being manu-

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factured by Solaris and are powered by hydrogen which is stored in on-board tanks able to carry 1,500 litres.

Electricity is generated via a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in the fuel cell, with the only emissions being heat and water.

Liz Benison, Arriva managing director, Europe, says: “This is an exciting development for Arriva with hydrogen technology now reaching a level of maturity that allows it to become part of our fleet strategy in European markets that support its introduction.

Our journey to net zero continues, helping to reduce pollution and

provide sustainable ways of keeping communities connected”.

The ten vehicles and the supporting infrastructure represents an investment of €6.4million, funded in partnership between Gelderland province, Arriva and the EU. Hydrogen is a growing technology in the Netherlands with Arriva participating in a hydrogen train trial in the north of the country. Arriva Group also operates two hydrogen buses in Denmark as part of a local trial, but the order in The Netherlands represents its most significant investment in hydrogen technology to date. www.arrivabus.com

February 2021

green TransLink to take 15 electric buses LFSe+ from Nova Bus for Vancouver

NOVA Bus, a subsidiary of Volvo Buses, has been awarded a contract for 15 LFSe+, long range electric buses by TransLink, Metro Vancouver’s transportation network.

TransLink will be adding these to their two LFSe vehicles delivered in 2019 as part of the Canadian Consortium for Urban Transportation Research and Innovation (CUTRIC) Canadawide Interchangeability Project, totalling their fleet to 17 Nova Bus electric vehicles. These longrange battery-electric buses can travel between 340 and 470 km on a single charge.

“Canada needs to be at the front of the trillion-dollar global clean tech economy, and our zero- emission bus makers like Quebec’s Nova Bus can help lead the charge,” said Catherine McKenna, Canada minister of February 2021

infrastructure and communities.

“We’re committed to helping put 5,000 new zero-emission public transit and school buses in Canadian communities over the next five years, and every new contract moves us toward that goal. Canada’s infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates good jobs across the country, and builds cleaner, more inclusive communities for a net-zero emissions future.”

Pierre Fitzgibbon, Quebec minister of economy and innovation, adds: “It is a great pride for Quebec to see Nova Bus’ electric buses gaining ground in Canada.

We are counting on the leadership and expertise of Nova Bus to make Quebec one of the North American leaders in this field.”

Martin Larose, vice president and general manager, Nova Bus, says: “As more cities demand

reduced GHG emissions and greater sustainability, we are meeting that need with our LFSe+, the perfect pairing of our proven expertise with the latest innovations in clean and sustainable technologies.”

“Zero-emission electric buses are the future of the transit industry, and this order more than quadruples our existing batteryelectric bus f leet, bringing us one step closer to achieving our aggressive climate targets.”

The Nova Bus LFSe, on which the new LFSe+ is modelled, was the first electric bus in the industry to receive a passing score for a full test at Altoona in June 2018. The new LFSe+ integrates the traction motor and power electronics which uses advanced materials such as silicon carbide to improve heat management. www.volvobuses.com

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green

OUR PICK OF THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BUS AND COACH SECTOR

ADL and Kiwi Bus Builders welcome New Zealand funding for electric buses

ALEXANDER Dennis has welcomed the announcement by the New Zealand Government of NZ$50million funding to help councils fully decarbonise their public transport bus fleet by 2035. ADL is to build zero emission buses in New Zealand in cooperation with local partner Kiwi Bus Builders.

The funding to be given to councils for the procurement of zero emission buses is part of a series of measures intended to help meet New Zealand’s 2050 carbon neutral target announced by prime minister Jacinda Ardern and transport minister Michael Wood. By decarbonising the bus fleet, the country aims to prevent up to 4.5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions.

ADL recently announced that

26

it will assemble zero emission buses locally in New Zealand, renewing a partnership with local manufacturer Kiwi Bus Builders. ADL’s electric buses for New Zealand are part of the BYD ADL Enviro200EV range using BYD iron phosphate battery and driveline technology. In addition to two-axle models, the partners will produce 12.6m-long, three-axle electric buses, which ADL has designed for the specific requirements of bus operation in New Zealand by carrying 78 passengers without the requirement of an overweight permit.

Richard Drummond, managing director, Kiwi Bus Builders, says: “We are primed to kick-start the partnership, we have already started the process to create apprenticeships, creating jobs and

supporting jobs that have been lost due to the coronavirus. This is in line with the New Zealand government’s plan to build the economy back stronger.”

ADL president & managing director, Paul Davies, adds: “With a strong track record of innovation and as a member of NFI Group, we are leveraging global expertise in the design and deployment of clean buses while collaborating in close partnership with our customers by tailoring our vehicles to their requirements and assembling them locally. Together with Kiwi Bus Builders, we look forward to helping councils across New Zealand deliver on the Government’s commitments for a sustainable future.” www.alexander-dennis.com

February 2021

green BYD lands first eBus order in Romania BYD has confirmed its first fleet order in Romania with nine 12m eBuses for the Municipality of Buzău, to be operated by Transbus Buzău in the south-east of the country. The majority of the vehicles will be manufactured at BYD’s production facility in Komárom, in neighbouring Hungary.

This latest order follows deliveries in Germany last summer when 22 eBuses - also 12-metre models - entered service in Gelsenkirchen and Bochum, and

also in Hungary with ten eBuses for the city of Pécs.

“We’re delighted to have signed this important contract for the city of Buzău, and accessing European funds to improve the quality of life in our city,” said Buzău mayor Constantin Toma, “We want to improve public transport in Buzău as much as possible. Presently, pollution is a problem due to the very large number of cars. In the last four years, the number of cars has doubled.”

BYD Europe managing direc-

tor Isbrand Ho, adds: “From Portugal in the west and now to Romania in the east, and also to the north, BYD continues to expand into markets the length and breadth of Europe.

“I am confident this local operation will serve as a template for other Romanian towns and cities to introduce eMobility for their own citizens and to realise the benefits of safe, reliable, comfortable and, above all, clean public transport.” www.byd.com

Partnership targets electrification of US and Canada school fleet

FIRST Student, First Transit and NextEra Energy Resources have entered into a framework agreement to establish a joint venture to pursue the electrification of tens of thousands of school and public transportation vehicles across the US and Canada.

The transition to electric vehicles for the school and public transportation sector is expected to play a key role in helping communities improve air quality and environmental health for student passengers, transit riders and area residents. In addition, utilising the sizeable batteries of school and public transportation electric vehicle fleets for distributed energy storage and grid services has the potential to make a significant contribution to longterm sustainable clean energy transition in North America.

The US and Canada combined represent the largest student transportation market in the February 2021

world, with approximately 520,000 yellow school buses in total. The companies are collaborating to address market opportunities by first capitalising on First Student’s fleet of 43,000 yellow school buses, the single largest fleet in North America, and nearly 500 depots located across 40 US states and seven Canadian provinces.

First says that combining this scale with NextEra Energy Resources’ expertise is anticipated to help accelerate electrification from individual pilots to broader f leet rollout across the US and Canada.

The US and Canada combined represent one of the world’s largest public transit markets, with approximately 160,000 buses and other vehicles in total. The transit market is anticipating a shift to electric vehicles, driven by an increased emphasis on delivering clean, pollution-free transit solutions.

The collaboration intends to focus on First Transit’s customer base to create new business opportunities and revenue streams associated with f leet electrification.

Matthew Gregory, chief executive, FirstGroup, says: “First Student and First Transit are taking this significant step in order to improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions for the communities we serve.

“We have found a world-class partner in NextEra, who shares our vision of the importance that electrification and zero-emission technologies will play in the future of sustainable transport.

“The agreement will position First Student as the leading owner and operator of electric school buses, and First Transit as the leading provider of sustainable passenger transportation solutions, in North America.” www.firstgroup.com

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