Alexander Dennis, a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc., one of the world’s leading independent global bus manufacturers, today shared an exclusive preview of its next generation of battery-electric buses at Euro Bus Expo 2022 in Birmingham, providing new information on their design, specification and capabilities. Each of the new buses will be charged via dual-sided DC CCS2 plug-in connectors at up to 150kW. They are both also compatible with inverted pantograph-based opportunity replenishment at up to 300kW. While plug-in AC charging is yet to be engineered, it is not ruled out should demand require. The Enviro100EV is described by Alexander Dennis as ‘a gamechanger’. It will seat up to 25 passenger and have a maximum range of 285 miles. Zemo Partnership has already certified the new models via its Zero Emission Bus accreditation scheme. For the Enviro400EV in 354kW/h form, energy consumption is listed as 0.90kW/h per km. With 472kW/h of storage, that figure is 0.91kW/h per km. The Enviro100EV is an 8.5m small bus that seats 25 passengers and delivers a claimed range of up to 285 miles

Use of VEDS in the buses represents further success for Voith with UK bus manufacturers. Those customers currently account for around 70% of VEDS production. On provincial work where average mileages are higher, a 20-year life with one change of energy storage is projected. Alexander Dennis will provide a standard eight-year battery warranty on both the Enviro100EV and Enviro400EV, but it is willing to negotiate an extension of that to 12 years on a commercial basis. Vehicle warranty period is five years. Enviro100EV and Enviro400EV already certified by Zemo The electric buses are powered by BYD Iron-Phosphate Battery technology providing a longer driving range and optimised battery life. They also benefit from BYD’s innovative chassis, incorporating a ‘6 in one controller’ integrating the entire ecosystem of the bus for improved reliability. In 472kW/h iteration, the Enviro400EV is claimed to have an overall battery energy throughput of 1.4 GW/h before that storage requires replacement at 70% of original capacity. Alexander Dennis believes that the 1.4GW/h figure is 40% higher than any competitor vehicle. A bare Enviro400EV chassis gives an idea of battery placement strategy; they are location within the white boxesIn a further reflection of existing diesel products, the company believes that the newcomers will be “portable assets” that can move between applications across their working lives. The OEM talks confidently of that being 20 years, with claimed battery longevity and finance options supporting such an assertion. Both buses promise a long battery life, says Alexander Dennis; the OEM is willing to warrant that for up to 12 years Heights of 4.2m or 4.3m are available, and an open-top version will follow. Maximum passenger capacity is 96, with 80 seated. Expected range is 260 miles with 472kW/h of batteries, and 195 miles where 354kW/h is specified.

The battery system has been developed in partnership with Impact Clean Power Technology. Using NMC lithium-ion cells, it delivers a higher total energy throughput – up to 1.4GWh in the Enviro400EV, while battery capacity is up to 472kWh on the Enviro400EV and up to 354kWh on the Enviro100EV. Design language of the buses is described by Mr Gall as being akin to “modern architecture,” although he believes that they retain the recognisable characteristics of Alexander Dennis vehicles. Assembly of the Enviro400EV will be focused on the Alexander Dennis plant in Larbert, where a new production line has been established. The first customer examples, for Stagecoach and Transdev Blazefield, are well underway, although they are likely to be finished before homologation of the model is completed. Hence, they will not enter service immediately. Strong range promises for Enviro100EV and Enviro400EV Opp charging compatibility included on new models BYD work continues alongside Enviro100EV and Enviro400EV We saw a gap in the market for a small bus with a good range, a good passenger capacity and which is highly manoeuvrable,” Mr Gall continues. “So the Enviro100EV was born.” The Enviro100EV is small – but Alexander Dennis says that it is ‘like a Tardis’ where interior space is concernedA cookie set by YouTube to measure bandwidth that determines whether the user gets the new or old player interface. The Enviro100EV was announced as a new model in the Alexander Dennis range on 1November2022 at the Euro Bus Expo at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, England, with the first production model unveiled a year later on 1 November 2023. Series production is set to commence in early 2024. [1] [2] Perhaps most notable about the Enviro100EV is its claimed range. Either 236kW/h or 354kW/h of battery capacity can be specified, delivering endurance of up to 190 or 285 miles, respectively. Opp charging compatibility included on new models The acclaimed Voith Electrical Drive System is used in both the Enviro100EV and Enviro400EV, in its medium-duty and heavy-duty variants, respectively. The latter gives a peak power of 410kW and the former 260kW. Alexander Dennis says that will be ample for interurban work, with a maximum road speed of 60mph, subject to other factors.

A focus for Alexander Dennis was placing the batteries as far forwards as possible on the Enviro400EV to minimise imposed weight on the rear axle. Battery boxes within the floor are mounted on dampers so no chassis flex is transmitted.

h or 354kW/h of battery capacity can be specified. Zemo certificates give energy consumption of 0.66kW/h per km and 0.69kW/h per km, respectively; Alexander Dennis claims ranges of up to 190 or 285 miles. Along with a next-generation electric driveline and the new, future-proof Alexander Dennis battery system, the new buses introduce a striking design language that enhances their kerb appeal and makes a bold statement of investment in cleaner transport. That total takes into account power input and output as a result of regenerative braking and is thus not directly related to overall energy consumption. But the OEM says that route modelling has shown that such a capability will allow the bus to complete two, seven-year Transport for London route contract terms before battery replacement is needed.

Alexander Dennis President & Managing Director Paul Davies said: “The pace of change in our industry is rapid. We are proud of the progress we’ve made with electric buses over the last seven years, and our wide range of low-emission technologies before that. Now it’s time for us to take the next step and take zero-emission buses to the next level. We’re giving authorities and operators more choice, more flexibility and more value with our next generation of battery-electric buses.” Building on the comprehensive expertise gained as the UK market leader for low, ultra-low and zero-emission buses and benefitting from learnings across NFI Group, Alexander Dennis has developed a new zero-emission technology platform as the basis for a new generation of battery-electric and hydrogen-fuel cell buses. In addition, the company will continue to offer the hugely successful electric buses of the BYD ADL partnership, giving cities, transport authorities and bus operators even more options to meet their operational requirements. However, it hints that further developments later will push range figures for the Enviro100EV and Enviro400EV higher. That is via work by Impact, which is “already planning a future iteration of NMC batteries for Alexander Dennis,” the vehicle OEM says.

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A wood-effect floor adds to the cutting-edge design. New covers for the priority seats, with a contrasting colour scheme, help differentiate them from other seats for passengers who are less able to stand. The vehicles also have a larger wheelchair and buggy area, improving accessibility and helping parents getting around town. CCTV cameras have also been upgraded to provide higher-definition footage, acting as a greater deterrent and making travel even more safe and secure. While neither of the new battery-electric buses for the UK were shown complete at Euro Bus Expo, a rear chassis unit of the Enviro400EV was displayed. Alexander Dennis has designed its own energy storage containers, within which are batteries from Polish company Impact Clean Power Technology. The Enviro400EV developed in-house by Alexander Dennis will offer up to 472kW/h of energy storage and a claimed maximum range of 260 miles Demonstration of the Enviro100EV and Enviro400EV will commence once homologation is complete. Existing battery-electric buses produced via the BYD Alexander Dennis partnership are unaffected and that relationship and product offering continues. The in-house battery-electric models from Alexander Dennis will be followed by an Enviro200EV, but President and Managing Director Paul Davies explains that the Scottish OEM’s relationship with partner BYD is unaffected by the range extension. BYD ADL Enviro200EV and Enviro400EV products remain available and there is no intention of dropping them.