Pelican announces new Yutong double-deck

Pelican Bus and Coach, the UK importer of Chinese-built Yutong vehicles, has given sneak preview of its new battery-electric double-decker for the UK: the U11DD.

Believed to be the first-ever double-deck bus built in China to be imported, the U11DD is a fully integral vehicle, designed with low total cost of ownership in mind. The RHD version builds on long experience of double-decks built for China and other countries.

The vehicles have either 385kWh or 422kWh batteries fitted with, as standard, the Yutong Electric Safety System. Yutong says the battery chemistry is the safest on the market; Lithium Iron Phosphate with no cobalt, produced by the world’s largest battery manufacturer, Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd (CATL).

Pelican has confirmed that due to customer interest, they will have two demonstrators in the UK available from September and November.

Ian Downie, Head of Yutong UK, said: “Since I joined Pelican, we have been working on the development of this exciting product. The brief was to develop not only a zero-emission electric double-deck, but also a vehicle that would be attractive to operators, passengers and drivers. It is a very proud moment to see the results, with an interior that welcomes passengers into bright, airy and air-conditioned comfort, that has a superb structure without noise and rattles, a wide roomy driver’s cab with ergonomically designed controls, smooth driving characteristics, and excellent access to all components.

“We are delighted to be able demonstrate this provincial vehicle to our operators, and look forward to their feedback.”

The demonstrator vehicle is being liveried into Pelican’s demonstrator silver colour before being shipped.