Coventry electric buses

[BBS]

If so, what are the problems these buses have been getting on this specific route then?

[AlexS]

100% agree with you, and like I said previously I like the E400EVs on the X1. But it's best for the company if they remove these buses of this route for the time being. It's not because I dislike them or enthusiast hate electric buses, but from a passenger perspective it's reducing reliability, considering these buses have to push 40 for 11 miles straight for 4-6 journeys, plus the Meriden hill towards the A45 Bridge, the batteries must be being pushed significantly to the point these need to be changed every few months or so

The X1 will always have seen a higher than typical number of failures whatever vehicles are operating it due to the nature of the route. Unless there is evidence that the electrics are breaking down significantly more frequently than the diesel vehicles used to on the same route it is basically irrelevant that they may be breaking down more frequently on that route compared to others.

[BBS]

The X1 will always have seen a higher than typical number of failures whatever vehicles are operating it due to the nature of the route. Unless there is evidence that the electrics are breaking down significantly more frequently than the diesel vehicles used to on the same route it is basically irrelevant that they may be breaking down more frequently on that route compared to others.

A diesel tank doesn't degrade does it though, but batteries do. It puts effect on other routes those buses need to do, love to see how the electrics carry on doing the X1 in the upcoming years 

[Sandy Lane]

The X1 will always have seen a higher than typical number of failures whatever vehicles are operating it due to the nature of the route. Unless there is evidence that the electrics are breaking down significantly more frequently than the diesel vehicles used to on the same route it is basically irrelevant that they may be breaking down more frequently on that route compared to others.

Hasn't First Leicester also gone back to diesel deckers on the BHX5 Spon End - Rugby Gateway?

[Jack]

It would help if there was more Aiport shorts during the daytime to help the X1 as it's a nightmare throughout the whole day, back when they was running there was hardly an issues that the X1 has now, which also is effecting the X2. I would much prefer BC back on the X1 as the Electrics are sadly very uncomfortable to ride on there. Or the Airport shorts to return!

[BBS]

It would help if there was more Aiport shorts during the daytime to help the X1 as it's a nightmare throughout the whole day, back when they was running there was hardly an issues that the X1 has now, which also is effecting the X2. I would much prefer BC back on the X1 as the Electrics are sadly very uncomfortable to ride on there. Or the Airport shorts to return!

The electrics have also cut capacity now haven't they?

[Tony]

Batteries are hugely expensive - the single most expensive component on electric vehicles - and they aren't changed every few months. I can't speak for buses, but electric cars typically have a battery warranty of around 8 years.

These buses are typically only doing a few round trips on the X1, and aren't branded so will be used on any Coventry route in between. I'd be surprised if a few spells of 40mph stretches over the course of part of a day would have a significantly adverse effect on fairly new buses.

It doesn't. It's amazing how people comment to say a bus has broken down with defective doors, then others say electric buses are unreliable. All buses have doors. (Those comments were on Facebook not here but I suspect some of the comments on here are from people sering Facebook posts)

[Mayfield]

Hasn't First Leicester also gone back to diesel deckers on the BHX5 Spon End - Rugby Gateway?

There has been a couple this week

[AlexS]

Hasn't First Leicester also gone back to diesel deckers on the BHX5 Spon End - Rugby Gateway?

Should never really have been electric given the electrics were purchased with Zebra funding for services in Leicester and the route doesn't go anywhere near Leicester. Was only operated with Electrics for a short period whilst Diesels that were appropriate for the route were unavailable.

[Danthebusman]

Hasn't First Leicester also gone back to diesel deckers on the BHX5 Spon End - Rugby Gateway?

I seen an EV with a diesel behind it this morning on the way to Spon End.

[BBS]

20 plate EV E021 on the X1 today, uncommon to see these on this route 

[Tony]

20 plate EV E021 on the X1 today, uncommon to see these on this route

The garage don't differentiate, they are no less common than any other bus

[BBS]

The garage don't differentiate, they are no less common than any other bus

So if possible, does that route have any chances of returning to BC? I'm sure X1 isn't a ZEBRA funded route either, so possible to revert this and finally get a chance to sit down on this route since platinums had more capacity? I'm sure NX has 2 years to find a suitable electric bus that has the right battery life for the route ( such as the newer ADL E400EV ). 

[Tony]

So if possible, does that route have any chances of returning to BC? I'm sure X1 isn't a ZEBRA funded route either, so possible to revert this and finally get a chance to sit down on this route since platinums had more capacity? I'm sure NX has 2 years to find a suitable electric bus that has the right battery life for the route ( such as the newer ADL E400EV ).

Coventry has to be 100% electric end of next year, so no, not two years and no idea what you are on about finding a suitable electric bus, no current bus has run out of battery, and as far as I know no breakdowns die to being an electric bus.

[Budgie]

Obviously everything Tony has said answers the queries on the X1, First experiences. There does seem to be a massive misconception about EVs. Yes people are right to have anxiety range- it is an issue, and yes they can be very annoying when you arrive at a motorway services and find half the chargers not working and a queue for the few that are. But they also have less parts to go wrong.  I accept that an EV bus isn't the same as an EV car, which is what I experience.

However, you simply manage it! (and yes occasionally get very frustrated by it too)  The NX management is seemingly excellent and will know exactly what they are doing. That is what you do with any vehicle but especially EVs. You manage them. You know the range, you plan accordingly.  If you stick them on the X1, you factor the range into the diagrams. The notion that the schedulers would allow a bus to run out of range and that a driver wouldn't say "erm we have a problem" if a mistake by a scheduler is made is one I struggle to comprehend.

So have range concern... yes.  Lead to breakdowns because of this no.  Have more mechanical issues than diesel, no.  My experience is an electric car can be difficult to service for a mechanic because there is so little to service, the battery part tends to look after itself and there is no gears, clutch, belts etc to worry about