ADL/BYD alliance and £19m deal
Chinese bus manufacturer, BYD and Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) have formed a new alliance and confirmed a £19m deal. The partnership will see the introduction of London’s first large scale, zero emission, single deck bus fleet. It will also be the single largest fleet of full size electric buses in Europe. The move follows confirmation by Go-Ahead London that they are to introduce 51 pure electric buses on routes 507 and 521, which operate between Waterloo and Victoria.
The vehicles will be built on BYD chassis and powered by its electric drivetrain. The Chinese manufacturer is known as the world’s largest maker of pure electric buses. All 51 are to be bodied by ADL, incorporating its Enviro200-like midi bus design. The British company describes its Enviro200 as the world’s best selling midibus. The vehicle is designed to be lightweight, easy access, manoeuvrable and fuel efficient. Go-Ahead London expects to introduce these buses into service by 27 August 2016. They will be capable of carrying up to 90 passengers and will be London’s first large scale pure electric bus fleet. The new deal includes a full on-site repair and maintenance programme for the term of the contract.
CEO of ADL, Colin Robertson, said, ‘Technology is at the forefront of everything we do and this unique alliance with BYD represents a quantum leap into the future. Our combined strengths and, critically, the unified aftermarket support we are putting in place to support Go-Ahead London in the long-term, represents a fundamental of our combined business philosophy. The backing of Go-Ahead – in the form of this £19m contract – is a huge confidence booster and we are delighted to have emerged alongside BYD as the preferred bidder in what was a highly competitive process involving a raft of global competitors. I see this new initiative as a major turning point for ADL and our new technology partner, BYD.’
Engineering Director of Go-Ahead London, Richard Harrington, said, ‘We are delighted to have placed this order with BYD and have every confidence that along with ADL they will deliver exactly what they promise, that is, the world’s most advanced, zero-emission, pure electric bus fleet – and one that will match the rigorous demands of the London operating environment. Go-Ahead is constantly striving to stay at the forefront of technology and to make a major contribution in the reduction of emissions and pollutants. This is a considerable step towards a cleaner, greener London bus fleet.’
MD of BYD Europe, Isbrand Ho, said, ‘Working together with our partners and friends at ADL we can provide a truly optimised blend of expertise. Our deep experience of not only battery technology but the critical battery management systems and driveline components necessary to deliver unequalled range and reliability are matched to ADL’s strong track record in building low weight, attractive and durable buses. This combination will deliver a unique vehicle which we believe will have a strong appeal in London and elsewhere in the UK.’