- As part of an ongoing partnership between fleet electrification specialists Zenobē and bus and coach operator National Express, the National Express West Midlands bus fleet has seen a significant 170 electric buses enter service in the region.
- The new electric buses are set to save a total of 20,000 tonnes of CO2 annually, compared to diesel buses that would otherwise be in service.
- The 170 buses will be fully-electric variants of the Alexander Dennis Enviro400 double-decker, which come as part of a £95 million electrification investment.
Zenobē and National Express West Midlands bring 170 more electric buses to the road
Zenobē’s unique partnership with National Express West Midlands means that its EV transition is provided in an ‘Electric Transport as a Service’ (ETaaS) form, which includes the initial financing of the buses and batteries, monitoring performance, and providing a solution when these buses reach the end of their first usable life.
With that end-of-life aspect in mind, Zenobē has also installed second-life bus batteries at depots, which store energy away from the grid – allowing these electric buses to charge consistently, even at times of high grid demand.
The collaboration with Zenobē follows its successful previous collaboration with National Express Coventry, where the city has set an ambitious goal of becoming the first UK city to only operate fully-electric buses, by the end of 2025. Other operators in the city, such as Stagecoach, have also helped build towards this goal, with the operator recently adding 64 electric buses to its Coventry fleet.
Steven Meersman, Founder Director of Zenobē, said:
“Today marks another key milestone in National Express’s journey toward a zero-emission future, and Zenobē is proud to be a driving force behind it. What began over six years ago with just 19 vehicles at Yardley Wood has grown into a nationwide partnership, now supporting over 300 vehicles across the country. From procuring vehicles and onboard batteries to designing and managing charging infrastructure, we’ve delivered a fully tailored, end-to-end solution at Yardley Wood that supports National Express’s bold ambitions and meets their long-term operational goals.”
Antony Goozee, Bus Strategy and Commercial Director at National Express West Midlands, added:
“Replacing our diesel buses with electric vehicles and modernising our depots are key steps in our journey towards operating a fully zero-emission bus fleet by 2030. These new clean, green double-decker buses are not just about improving efficiency and reducing our environmental impact, they also deliver a better experience for our passengers with quieter, smoother, and more comfortable journeys.”
