BYD D9UR Enviro200 MMC Electric Bus

Back in August 2015, I published an article about Go Ahead purchasing BYD eBuses with the Enviro200 MMC bodywork. I also wrote another one back in September 2016 when they were officially launched on the Red Arrow routes – they entered service though back in late August 2016.

The long wait is finally over, and I finally get to ride that lovely new electric bus with its very futuristic style Enviro200 MMC bodywork.

My Review

I enter the bus via the middle doors which is usually allowed on the Red Arrow routes 507 and 521 because they have Oyster readers in the middle of the bus to enable faster boarding.

The colours of the buses’ interior are blue flooring, light blue side panels with blue seats and yellow rail grabs. The blue colours match the Oyster card readers in the middle of the bus. I do like to see the different interior colours on different buses as they are chosen by private bus operating companies when they purchase new buses.

The bus has fewer seats due to its spacious standing space, which allows for a larger overall capacity as it’s a commuter bus route in Central London.

One drawback is though is that there’s no rear window because of the battery pack and other equipment needed to run the electric bus.

The bodywork uses the Enviro200 MMC which is built by Alexander Dennis. The double deck version of the bodywork is known as the Enviro400(H) City as they are currently on London Bus routes 26 and 78; soon they will also be on routes 133 and 333.

The front part of the Enviro200 MMCs bodywork looks similar to the New Routemaster bus, but the electric bus has a futuristic look which is all down to Alexander Dennis teaming up with BYD.

The bus operator, Go Ahead London, paid £19 million for 51 of the BYD D9UR eBuses with the Enviro200 MMC bodywork. This seems to be quite expensive compared to the three-door two-staircase hybrid bus called the New Routemaster, which was purchased directly by TfL and leased to private bus operating companies.

Added extras on the bus!

If you sit on the back seats of the bus, behind the seats you have the USB charging ports to charge up your devices. I’ve taken the opportunity to use it and it really works. Compare this feature to the Fastrack bus (rapid transit buses,) they have plug sockets which require you to bring your own USB charging plug in order to charge your phone.

Another added extra is the full colour LCD display which shows the time and date, and when the bus is in service it also shows you the next stops on the route. As a small bonus, the Red Arrow logo returns, which can be seen on the top left of the screen.

I think that TfL has certainly improved the London Buses fleet by requiring bus operators to buy hybrids and/or zero emission buses.

You can ride these fantastic electric buses which are on Red Arrow routes 507 (Victoria to Waterloo) and 521 (Waterloo to London Bridge via Holborn and City of London).

Here’s the video footage of the bus in action:

ELECTRIC BUS BYD D9UR Enviro200 MMC on London... by clondoner92

London Buses Red Arrow Route 507
Operated by Go Ahead London General from (RA) Waterloo garage
BYD D9UR Enviro200 MMC EV

SEe11 LJ16NNT

And some bonus videos:

BYD Electric Bus on route 521 at Holborn... by clondoner92

BYD eBus
Operated by Go Ahead London from Waterloo (RA) Garage
EB1 LC63CYA
Filmed on 18th September 2014

Go Ahead London MEC50/MBA50 in classic RETRO... by clondoner92

Go Ahead London Mercedes-Benz Citaro MEC50/MBA50 BT09GPJ in classic Red Arrow livery for London Buses routes 507 and 521

Links to more Red Arrow bus videos:

Mercedes-Benz Citaro on London Buses route 507 MEC29 BD09ZVU

London Buses route 521 Mercedes-Benz Citaro MEC48 BT09GPE

It’s amazing how times change, as well as technology, and new London bus requirements will require bus operators to buy hybrid or zero emission buses for their services.

The standard diesel versions of the Enviro200 MMC are on London Buses routes 146, 336, 367, 499, B13, C10, E5, E7 and H20.

I can safely say that I prefer this new electric bus to the New Routemaster bus.

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