More BYD AD E200s for Sky contract

Alexander Dennis has supplied further electric buses to Cobra Corporate Services for its Sky contract.

Two new BYD AD Enviro200EV single-deckers for Cobra Corporate Services follow eight similar vehicles delivered two years ago. They are used on a corporate contract for broadcasting and telecommunications group Sky in Livingston, Scotland, offering links to railway stations and local facilities.

For these latest zero-emission buses, Cobra has taken a system approach to vehicles and infrastructure, with multiple companies working together to deliver a reliable solution.

Alexander Dennis built the zero-emission buses on chassis supplied by BYD and provides spare parts and service through its AD24 aftermarket division. The vehicles are owned by Dawsongroup bus and coach and provided to Cobra on a fully supported contract hire solution for the operation on behalf of Sky. EO Charging has provided and will manage the ongoing maintenance of the charging infrastructure that was installed by BES Group.

The new Enviro200EVs have replaced two of the earlier examples, which have been transferred from Livingston to the similar Sky operation in Osterley, Greater London, that utilises the remainder of the fleet. While the earlier buses used a slow AC charging connection, the new buses are designed with state-of-the-art DC charging.

BES Group has installed two dual 120kW chargers at Livingston. The infrastructure was manufactured by ABB and supplied by EO Charging, who will also provide ongoing maintenance and its fleet management software, EO Cloud, a cloud-based monitoring that includes real-time oversight and management of the infrastructure supporting the calculation of carbon emissions avoided. The higher charging speed compared to the earlier AC solution increases resilience of the operation, which has no spare vehicles. It should allow vehicles to be returned to service more quickly after maintenance and repairs, with the proximity of the AD24 team at the manufacturers’ sites in Falkirk and Larbert an additional factor that helps keep downtime to a minimum.

“The collaboration and support from our partners have been outstanding” – Steve Dowling, Director at Cobra Corporate Services

Steve Dowling, Director at Cobra Corporate Services, said: “Our new Enviro200EV at Livingston have been in service for a few months now and they are performing very reliably. We have a solid solution using DC infrastructure, which really is the gold standard for electric bus charging, working better and giving us more options, more confidence and more operational flexibility.

“The collaboration and support from our partners have been outstanding. This collaboration and pooling of expertise has been key to completing the full electrification of all Sky shuttle services at Livingston and Osterley as well as Elstree Studios as part of our client’s Sky Zero strategy.”

“This is a landmark project for sustainable travel options” – Mark Taylor, Regional Sales Manager for Alexander Dennis

Mark Taylor, Regional Sales Manager for Alexander Dennis, said: “We are delighted to have worked with our friends and partners to deliver this reliable system solution for Cobra and their client Sky, and to continue to support the ongoing operation through AD24. This is a landmark project for sustainable travel options which demonstrates the potential of zero-emission buses on corporate contracts.”

“It is immensely gratifying to be part of a project that not only achieves success but also continues to evolve” – Fraser Innes, Sales Director for Dawsongroup bus and coach

Fraser Innes, Sales Director for Dawsongroup bus and coach, said: “Congratulations to Cobra Corporate Services on the successful rollout of their sustainable staff transport service to a second site. It is immensely gratifying to be part of a project that not only achieves success but also continues to evolve. This accomplishment is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire Cobra Corporate Services team.

“We are pleased to support your efforts with a flexible package that meets the needs of both your organisation and your clients. Your commitment to sustainability and innovation sets a remarkable example, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration.”

“We are proud to be part of this significant project” – Philip Kershaw, Director of eBus of EO Charging

Philip Kershaw, Director of eBus of EO Charging, added: “We are proud to be part of this significant project, providing the essential charging infrastructure and maintenance to support Cobra’s electric bus fleet. Our collaboration with BES Group guarantees that the charging stations are not only reliable but also optimised for performance, significantly reducing downtime, enhancing operational efficiency, and ensuring comprehensive charge assurance.”

“We are thrilled to continue our strong partnership with Cobra Corporate Services on this exciting project” – Andrew Livesey, Managing Director – Electrical Division for BES Group

Andrew Livesey, Managing Director – Electrical Division for BES Group, said: “We are thrilled to continue our strong partnership with Cobra Corporate Services on this exciting project. Our collaboration with EO Charging has been instrumental in delivering a comprehensive charging infrastructure solution for Sky. We look forward to working together on future projects to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future.”