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:
London Buses Red Arrow Route 507
Operated by Go Ahead London General from (RA) Waterloo garage
BYD D9UR Enviro200 MMC EV
Operated by Go Ahead London General from (RA) Waterloo garage
BYD D9UR Enviro200 MMC EV
SEe11 LJ16NNT
And some bonus videos:
BYD eBus
Operated by Go Ahead London from Waterloo (RA) Garage
EB1 LC63CYA
Filmed on 18th September 2014
Operated by Go Ahead London from Waterloo (RA) Garage
EB1 LC63CYA
Filmed on 18th September 2014
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:
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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