Flix announces long-distance electric coach pilot
Travel tech company Flix has announced the launch of its pilot for the first electric long-distance coach service in England and Wales.
From 21 March until June 2024, travellers will be able to try out the electric vehicle on a FlixBus route between London, Bristol and Newport (South Wales). It will be trialled for three months with operator partner Newport Transport. The vehicle to be used on the service is from the operator’s fleet. It already owns four Yutong TCe12 electric coaches and operates 60% of its local bus services with zero-emission vehicles.
The 46-seat Yutong TCe12 used on the service includes a toilet, USB charging points and free wi-fi for all customers as standard on FlixBus services, as well as being PSVAR compliant.
The vehicle is estimated to save 352kg of carbon emissions per day driven on this route compared to the average diesel-fuelled coach. This equals a reduction of more than 21 tonnes of CO2 over the course of the pilot.
“This is a huge step forward for the UK coach sector” – Andreas Schorling, Managing Director of FlixBus UK
Andreas Schorling, Managing Director of FlixBus UK, said: “This is a huge step forward for the UK coach sector, transforming the already low-carbon mode of transport to zero-emission at the tailpipe through innovative technology.
“As the first electric long-distance coach service in England and Wales, we’re sending a powerful message about our continued commitment to bring even more sustainable travel options for the public, and our determination to drive forward the change needed to reduce the impact on the climate.
“Coach travel is already a fantastic option because it’s comfortable, sustainable, and more affordable than other forms of transport. However, this pilot project sets us apart and we’re really proud to be leading the way on vehicle transformation.”
“Flix, as a global leader in travel tech, is the brand with passion and ambition to bring this vision to life, and we are delighted to partner on such a momentous pilot project” – David Jenkins, Interim Managing Director from Newport Transport
David Jenkins, Interim Managing Director from Newport Transport, said: “Flix, as a global leader in travel tech, is the brand with passion and ambition to bring this vision to life, and we are delighted to partner on such a momentous pilot project.
“Newport Transport has been leading the way in bringing electric vehicles to our network of local bus services in South East Wales and into England and bringing this electric vehicle to the intercity coach market is the next big step.”
The electric vehicle has a battery rating of 282kWh, and will be charged at a Transport UK London Bus (formerly known as Abellio) depot in Battersea, London and Newport Transport’s headquarters in South Wales.
Jon Eardley, Managing Director of Transport UK London Bus, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting FlixBus in this project to bring electric vehicles to the long-distance coach market, being charged using our ultra-fast state-of-the-art chargers.”