Electric Enviros for London United

The first set of buses for the newest wave of delayed electric conversions arrived today (01/10/2018) on Route 70. The BYD K9/ADL Enviro 200EV is the type of bus, meaning that London United is the first operator to co-currently have two types of production electric buses allocated to their routes. A partial allocation of production Optare Metrocity electric buses on the H98 are the other type that London United have.

BE37011 at Chiswick Business Park, starting an eastbound journey.
(© Aubrey Morandarte)

Intended for Routes 70 and C1, these buses are based at Shepherd's Bush Garage. As these buses contracted to run the 70/C1 were delayed, the cascade of displaced existing buses are affecting routes such as the 72/371/419 and H22 which are still pending their newer buses from the C1 and 70 respectively.

These buses are similar in length to the existing Enviro 200MMCs on the 70, and slightly longer than the Enviro 200s on the C1, thus length of the buses should not be too much of an issue. However, a combination of larger wheels and smaller overhangs (as the bus is a downsized full-size bus, rather than an up-sized midibus) has been a small issue for Route 46, partly explaining why existing buses are still on that route.


A higher point of view of BE37011 shows the driver's air conditioning pod and the large battery pack.
(© Aubrey Morandarte)

Iron-phosphate batteries are found on the roof, which are much cleaner to produce than most other batteries power a motor, driving the rear wheels for drive. Although electric buses do not produce emissions at the immediate vicinity of the bus, the electricity ironically is usually from non-renewable sources. The minimal space on the roof that is not taken by the battery pack means the fleet number on the roof is more forward than on other buses.


BE37010 arrives at Chiswick Business Park
(© Aubrey Morandarte)

At a rate of a maximum of 5 per day (according to staff at Shepherd's Bush), these electric buses will slowly displace the year old diesel Enviro 200MMCs that were ordered for the 70 in lieu of these electric buses being delayed. It is unknown for a certain date for the introduction of these buses on Route C1, but expect it to be in the near future.


A sight which may not last for too much longer, as ADH45004 on the soon to be curtailed 27 passes BE37011 on stand.
(© Aubrey Morandarte)

Route 27 has the two London United prototype Enviro 400 hybrid buses, introduced into London service on the 482 just about 10 years ago. To think that in 2018, we now have electric buses sufficiently proven to be the allocation on several routes shows how far we have developed technologically. The Anglo-Chinese partnership for the BYD/ADL bus seems to be popular with many British cities (i.e. Liverpool, Nottingham as well as London). The next step for the BYD/ADL partnership is the double decker version, which will be arriving in 2019 for Route 43 with Metroline.

Post by Aubrey Morandarte

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