Coventry electric buses

[BK63 YWP]

That newspaper article refers to 297 electric buses in Coventry. That seems a remarkably high number, even if you take into account all the buses working into the city from other locations like Nuneaton, Birmingham, Leamington, Stratford and Solihull?

Stagecoach, Johnsons and Diamond getting some as they run into the city?

[Stu]

Not sure if this has been brought up already, but surely this means that the NXWM X1 will also require electric vehicles?

Unless of course by 2025, with the introduction of Sprint, the X1 as we know it will have changed!

With regards to the smaller operators in Coventry, if tender specs change then it is equally possible that an operator such as Johnsons may simply choose to not bid again for those contracts when they come up for renewal, rather than go to the trouble of investing huge sums of money on electric vehicles just to run on subsidised services in one particular area.

[don]

Not sure if this has been brought up already, but surely this means that the NXWM X1 will also require electric vehicles?

Unless of course by 2025, with the introduction of Sprint, the X1 as we know it will have changed!

With regards to the smaller operators in Coventry, if tender specs change then it is equally possible that an operator such as Johnsons may simply choose to not bid again for those contracts when they come up for renewal, rather than go to the trouble of investing huge sums of money on electric vehicles just to run on subsidised services in one particular area.

I would have thought the X1 might remain (I think the X2 was the combination with the 51 for the Sprint route?) - however you would have thought the length of the X1 might suggest it would be a candidate for hydrogen rather than electric vehicles.

[Gareth]

Not sure if this has been brought up already, but surely this means that the NXWM X1 will also require electric vehicles?

I'm sure no one will cry if a hydrogen bus is used. I think the main thing is that Coventry will be zero emission.

[DJ]

I'm sure no one will cry if a hydrogen bus is used. I think the main thing is that Coventry will be zero emission.

Hydrogen is still electric, so it'd be fine. The difference is that it's a fuel-cell EV, rather than a battery EV.

[Stu]

Andy Street on Facebook:
"Great to be in the new electric city this afternoon as we announced that the first 130 all-electric double-decker buses for Coventry will start arriving next year"

Unclear if this is referring to one particular operator, as presumably NX Coventry will still have a need for single-deck vehicles for certain routes?

Either way, it seems no new buses this year then?

[Tony]

Andy Street on Facebook:
"Great to be in the new electric city this afternoon as we announced that the first 130 all-electric double-decker buses for Coventry will start arriving next year"

Unclear if this is referring to one particular operator, as presumably NX Coventry will still have a need for single-deck vehicles for certain routes?

Either way, it seems no new buses this year then?

National Express alone have 130 BYD/Alexander Dennis buses on order. I believe the 'next year' is more due to upgrading the electricity supply than getting the buses themselves

[2206]

Unclear if this is referring to one particular operator, as presumably NX Coventry will still have a need for single-deck vehicles for certain routes?

The allocation at 1.1.22 showed the allocation to be 177.
And I think it was also said only route that must have single decks is 20B and double decks already run on 14 for instance.

[cardew]

Potentially a stupid question, it wouldn't be the first, but would roof-mounted pantograph charging make electric buses more viable at garages with limited space or not?

[Ian Hardy]

National Express alone have 130 BYD/Alexander Dennis buses on order. I believe the 'next year' is more due to upgrading the electricity supply than getting the buses themselves

Tony,

Out of the 130 buses ordered, what is the split between DD and SD?

With regards to "I believe the 'next year' is more due to upgrading the electricity supply than getting the buses themselves", RATP at Fulwell in South West London regained 3 routes (65, 281 & 371) with electric buses in July 2021, the buses have all been delivered but the power infrastructure is still not complete, so the odd electric buses that are being used are being charged up by a mobile diesel generator. The other electric buses are still in store in January 2022 having been so for a couple of months:-).

[Tony]

Tony,

Out of the 130 buses ordered, what is the split between DD and SD?

All double deck BYD/E400Citys

[DJ]

All double deck BYD/E400Citys

That's a shame, they leave a lot to be desired in my opinion, mostly regarding the build quality. It would've been nicer to see more StreetDecks ordered, even if it were the BEV variety.

[Stu]

That's a shame, they leave a lot to be desired in my opinion, mostly regarding the build quality. It would've been nicer to see more StreetDecks ordered, even if it were the BEV variety.

I can only speak for the E400EV examples currently at Yardley Wood. They do frequently get used on my regular 2 and 3 services, and from a passenger's point of view, I am quite happy to say that they are fantastic buses to travel on and I have no complaints about their quality.

[DJ]

I can only speak for the E400EV examples currently at Yardley Wood. They do frequently get used on my regular 2 and 3 services, and from a passenger's point of view, I am quite happy to say that they are fantastic buses to travel on and I have no complaints about their quality.

I guess we'll agree to disagree then. Anything ADL built after around 2015 just seems cheap to me, with plenty of creaks and rattles from the interior plastics. Oh, and don't get me started on the rear seats downstairs on them.

[Tony]

I can only speak for the E400EV examples currently at Yardley Wood. They do frequently get used on my regular 2 and 3 services, and from a passenger's point of view, I am quite happy to say that they are fantastic buses to travel on and I have no complaints about their quality.

They are also, by a long way, the most reliable buses in the fleet as well