West Midlands’ first electric coach hits the roads

Solihull-based LandFlight Travel Services has added a 50-seater Yutong TCe12 coach, which is now in service on daily commuter routes for corporate clients.

The first electric coach to be operated in the West Midlands is expected to save an estimated 50,000Kgs of CO2 per year and is part of the company’s wider commitment to sustainability.

Day-to-day charging of the vehicle’s 281Kwh battery is undertaken at LandFlight’s base in Solihull, with a full charge enabling the coach to travel in excess of 200 miles.

“As a business, and as an industry, we need to push forward with zero-emission coach travel” – LandFlight director, Danny Matthews

LandFlight Director, Danny Matthews, said: “Being fully electric means zero-emissions when the coach is travelling, so this really is a very important leap forward in the West Midlands region to greener coach travel.

“However, the first thing most passengers notice when travelling on our new electric coach is the silence as there’s no engine.

“Our drivers are also really enjoying it behind the wheel. They undergo special training to familiarise themselves with driving an electric coach but it is actually quite similar to driving a diesel model.

“The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has set milestone dates for all regional buses to be non-diesel (zero-emission) by 2033 at the very latest, but there is currently no such date for coaches.

“As a business, and as an industry, we need to push forward with zero-emission coach travel and introduce new technology to reduce emissions where possible.”

The coach was delivered by Pelican Bus and Coach.