Electric Buses

[Mayfield]

Perhaps ADL can't see the point in I assume loaning it to N X as unlikely to place any orders in the near future.

[Mayfield]

NX74ZEB does not exist on DVLA records, I would guess it's never coming.

[RW]

NX74ZEB does not exist on DVLA records, I would guess it's never coming.

What a surprise, if true. 2030? No chance!

[Isle of Stroma]

NX74ZEB does not exist on DVLA records, I would guess it's never coming.

Probably because it's more than likely to receive a '25' plate??

[winston]

What a surprise, if true. 2030? No chance!

Why would NX now bother to place hundreds of new EV's in to service, when they potentially face losing large chunks / all of their WM commercial bus busines to competitors, due to the Mayors decision to proceed with franchising in two years. 

The future of Mobico's UK Bus business has fundamentally changed since announcing the 2030 target to remove all diesels. 

That said, once franchise awards are known, large EV orders are likely to be included as part of winning bids. 

[cardew]

Why would NX now bother to place hundreds of new EV's in to service, when they potentially face losing large chunks / all of their WM commercial bus busines to competitors, due to the Mayors decision to proceed with franchising in two years.

The future of Mobico's UK Bus business has fundamentally changed since announcing the 2030 target to remove all diesels.

That said, once franchise awards are known, large EV orders are likely to be included as part of winning bids.

The franchising document stated that the 2030 target had been "diluted" and then pointed the finger at NX!

[winston]

The franchising document stated that the 2030 target had been "diluted" and then pointed the finger at NX!

Neither NX or any other bus company would invest on scale in new EV's when Franchising is being planned. 

The Mayor / TfWM should have left the AQPS arrangement in place. 

[BlackCountryBusSpotter]

No Operator will buy any new buses at the moment let alone EV's, Diamond have some new E200MMC's and the new Mercs but for the wider group as well as the Birmingham and Black Country area, NX could do a Diamond and convert some buses to EV, but again pointless, NX don't know if they will be running routes in 2 years. No Operator is going to invest in new buses unless they are part of a wider group or are renewing there Fleet because there is no guarantee the several million quid they have spent on buying the buses, marketing them, specing them to a nice spec, fitting Ticket Machines and then training Engineers and Drivers on them if it is a new type will even be worth it if in 2 years time someone else is to own them buses. This isn't NX's fault there dammed if they do and dammed if they don't besides central Government can't actually seem to make up there minds on when ICE Cars will be banned.

[don]

Neither NX or any other bus company would invest on scale in new EV's when Franchising is being planned.

The Mayor / TfWM should have left the AQPS arrangement in place.

It would make commercial sense if the leasing for the vehicles (most if not all the NXWM EVs are leased from Zenobe) and charging equipment, combined with the running costs are less than the equivalent for diesel buses though - along with relative reliability of vehicles also. @Tony has mentioned previously the improvement they experienced with the Coventry fleet. Presumably the leases might be capable to be taken on by TfWM if franchising starts.

My guess is that once the funding is agreed through TfWM/WMCA to support commercial services referred to in earlier posts, NXWM will continue with its fleet replacement. Presumably once the chargers at YW are turned on, NXWM starts paying for the electricity (fuel!) - looks like an accounting thing, to start at the beginning of a financial quarter?

As for the franchising report, I recall it was stated NXWM was expected to have around 600 zero emission vehicles in service by 2027 - it also gave a date well into the 2030s for full EV operation - so it would appear it's the franchising arrangement suggested by TfWM that allows for an extended period for full zero emission operation. In fact the other operators have virtually none in the region currently operating!!

[Wba_lad]

It'll be there until they flip over to 25 plates at this rate lol.

i doubt it looking at the reg it was NX74 probably be kept at that being NX at the start.

[BBS]

i doubt it looking at the reg it was NX74 probably be kept at that being NX at the start.

Do you even have a clue what you're saying? 

[Tony]

Do you even have a clue what you're saying?

His comment makes perfect sense, you can keep a personalised registration on a vehicle if you wish.

[BK63 YWP]

Are the next batch of electric buses (130) still coming if franchising is on the cards? 

[Tony]

Are the next batch of electric buses (130) still coming if franchising is on the cards?

Yes, building is due to start very soon

[Ronnoc]

Yes, building is due to start very soon

Is there a reason that NX hasn't announced who is making these new electric buses? Surely an announcement would have come by now?