ADL BYD has tri-axle first in New Zealand

ADL has delivered the first three-axle BYD ADL Enviro200EV XLB for New Zealand to launch customer Auckland Transport.

The 12.6m BYD ADL Enviro200EV XLB has three axles, allowing it to qualify for reduced Road User Charges in New Zealand thanks to lower axle-loads. Joining the Auckland Transport fleet, the zero-emission bus with a total passenger capacity of 78 will be evaluated on different services in New Zealand’s largest city in trials supported by energy supplier Mercury. Up to 36 passengers can be seated, and two wheelchair spaces are provided which are accessed via a manual ramp at the front door.

The bus will be fully supported by ADL’s local aftermarket team providing highly skilled labour and genuine parts to ensure optimum vehicle performance.

ADL’s electric buses in New Zealand have already completed more than one million zero-emission kilometres in service. Like its two-axle siblings, the BYD ADL Enviro200EV XLB will be built locally by ADL’s partner Kiwi Bus Builders on BYD chassis, supporting New Zealand’s transition to a decarbonised bus fleet by 2035.

ADL’s General Manager in New Zealand, Tony Moore, said: “The launch of our extra-large electric bus marks an exciting new chapter in our partnership with Auckland Transport. After bringing the first electric buses to the city in 2018, we now have a zero emission bus that is fully designed to New Zealand requirements – and is made locally, boosting the economy and supporting skilled jobs.”