NatEx Coventry trialling electric Yutong

National Express Coventry is trialling an electric Yutong E12 in the city.

The single-decker can carry up to 70 passengers and is currently on loan to National Express from Welsh bus operator Newport Transport.

It will be in service on National Express Coventry’s 20, 20A and 20B services between Coventry, Bedworth and Nuneaton until Thursday 25 May 2023. National Express Coventry’s trial period will enable the local bus operator to gather driver and customer feedback while testing the E12’s zero-emission capabilities.

The operator currently has over 100 fully electric double-deckers serving routes across Birmingham, Solihull and Coventry. A further 20 hydrogen double-deckers operate on its 51 service between Birmingham and Walsall.

In January this year National Express announced it was investing a further £150 million in 300 UK-made electric zero emission buses to be deployed across the West Midlands. The brand-new buses will be delivered by the end of 2024.

“We’re grateful to Newport Transport for allowing us to borrow their Yutong bus” – David Bradford, Managing Director of National Express Coventry

David Bradford, Managing Director of National Express Coventry, said: “Buses are the most used form of transport here in the West Midlands. Not only do our bus services play a key role in keeping people connected, they are also critical to driving down harmful emissions.

“Getting more people to ditch their cars and switch to the bus is vital to tackling climate change and we’re proud to be leading the way with more and more sustainable transport choices for our new and existing customers.

“We’re grateful to Newport Transport for allowing us to borrow their Yutong bus and look forward to testing it on our routes operating out of Coventry so we can better understand capabilities and efficiencies under our usual operating conditions.”