Good news for Wrightbus as they are a few months in to the new ownership from Jo Bamford; the Northern Irish transport authority Translink is set to roll out double deck hydrogen buses for Belfast.
Extract from Energia Group
The announcement was made today, (Wednesday 29th January 2020), by Energia Group, Translink, and Wrightbus with support from the Department for Infrastructure and the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), marking an innovative partnership between the private and public sectors to combat climate change and improve air quality – recognised as the greatest environmental health risk in the UK.
Energia Group has signed a contract with Translink to supply renewably-sourced hydrogen fuel from an on-shore North Antrim windfarm. Wrightbus has also signed with Translink to supply three new sustainable fuel cell electric double-decker buses powered by hydrogen. The overall capital investment represents around £4 million. The pilot project will also deliver the first ever Hydrogen refuelling station of its kind in Ireland.
Speaking at the contract signing in Translink’s Milewater Service Centre, North Belfast, Energia Group Chief Executive Ian Thom said: “Energia Group is the first energy company on the island of Ireland to have a long-term hydrogen supply contract with a public transport company. Working with our subsidiary in Northern Ireland, Power NI, we are developing a number of solutions which will help facilitate the transition of all segments of the transport sector to help meet climate change and air quality standards. This work is an important part of our commitment as a green energy supplier and we are proud to be a key enabler in the decarbonisation of the public transport sector in Northern Ireland.
“We are delighted to partner with Translink on this renewable hydrogen project which brings together both public and private sector investment and innovation. The project will also be an important enabler for the development of the skills and capabilities of local companies, such as Wrightbus, so that export opportunities in the global hydrogen economy can be realised.”
Read more here
Translink has also issued a press release about the hydrogen bus contract.
Extract from Translink
Belfast is set to receive the first ever hydrogen-powered double decker buses in Ireland before the end of 2020 in the first major step to de-carbonise Northern Ireland’s public transport to zero emissions by 2040.
The announcement was made today, (Wednesday 29th January 2020), by Translink, Energia Group and Wrightbus with support from the Department for Infrastructure and the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), marking an innovative partnership between the private and public sectors to combat climate change and improve air quality – recognised as the greatest environmental health risk in the UK.
Translink has signed a contract with Energia Group for the supply of renewably-sourced hydrogen fuel from an on-shore North Antrim windfarm and a contract with Wrightbus who will supply three new sustainable fuel cell electric double-decker buses powered by hydrogen. The overall capital investment represents around £4 million. The pilot project will also deliver the first ever Hydrogen refuelling station of its kind in Ireland.
Read more here
Looking at the images from the conference, they have revealed two of the double-deck hydrogens with Gemini 3 body have a glazed staircase, a design cue from the New Routemaster bus.
.@Translink_NI is launching Northern Ireland’s first new sustainable fuel cell buses powered by hydrogen from local onshore wind energy pic.twitter.com/YDLsyOIxnd— Belfast Live (@BelfastLive) January 29, 2020
Now we look at the news from the Republic of Ireland. I’ve posted last year, that the National Transport authority was searching for a supplier to purchase 600 plug-in hybrid buses. Now they have found a supplier called Alexander Dennis and placed an order for 600 hybrid Enviro400ER buses. They have chosen to use the eye-catching City bodywork which takes design cues from the New Routemaster bus; the three-door, two-staircase hybrid vehicle was manufactured by Wrightbus in Northern Ireland.
Extract from Alexander Dennis
Alexander Dennis Limited (“ADL”), a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. (“NFI”), one of the world’s largest independent global bus manufacturers, today announced that it has signed a framework agreement with the Republic of Ireland’s National Transport Authority (NTA) for the delivery of up to 600 Enviro400ER double deck hybrid buses, capable of running in zero emission mode for at least 2.5 kilometres. The agreement includes an initial firm order for 100 buses.
The single supplier framework agreement covers the purchase of double deck diesel-electric hybrid buses and will run for up to five years. ADL was selected in a comprehensive procurement process in which the company provided the most economically advantageous offer. The first 100 buses have been firmly ordered and are to be delivered in autumn 2020 and the NTA will be able to exercise options for a further 500 vehicles to reflect vehicle requirements over the coming years.
The Enviro400ER is a double deck diesel-electric hybrid, capable of at least 2.5 kilometres (1.5 miles) continuous electric range with no exhaust emissions. It utilises the BAE Systems Series-ER hybrid system with a 32kWh next-generation lithium-ion battery energy storage system that can be charged externally via a plug-in connection, meeting the requirements of the European Union’s Clean Vehicles Directive.
In addition to its continuous zero tailpipe emissions range, the Enviro400ER switches off its diesel engine at low speeds during approach to and departure from stops and when stationary.
The buses will be 11.0 metres (36ft 1in) long and will have City style bodywork which has been adapted to suit requirements in the Republic of Ireland. The first 100 buses will seat 66 passengers and will have separate spaces for wheelchair users and passengers travelling with buggies. The framework agreement provides the opportunity to adjust the specifications of further vehicles to suit other operating requirements.
Read more here
Unfortunately it doesn't say if the National Transport Authority for Ireland has chosen to adopt the glazed staircase on their Enviro400 City design. I did mention in my previous article, that London Bus operator Metroline and Stagecoach Manchester have chosen not to adopt the glazed staircase on their Enviro400EV City because they want to maximise their advertising space.
One Irish newspaper has reported that an indivdual Enviro400ER City cost around €450,000 (GBP £378,222.75 as of 31st January 2020). This is more expensive than the three-door, two-staircase hybrid New Routemaster, the recent model from Wrightbus, which now costs around £325,000 as revealed by TfL in a Freedom of Information release.
Why is the Enviro400 City a spin-off design to the New Routemaster bus?
Date published: 23 January 2018
We have interpreted SRM as being ‘son of routemaster’. In other words, the spin-off vehicles being produced by Wrightbus and Alexander Dennis. These vehicles are bought or leased by bus operators, not TfL, and we do not determine that these models should be used for routes. It is their choice and therefore if the operators choose to buy or lease them, this will increase this type of bus in the fleet. We don't hold details such as vehicle costs as our private operators buy or lease, and we weren't involved in a project to develop them.
I do mention once again, the designer of the New Routemaster, Thomas Heatherwick, praised the Enviro400 City as a ‘back-to-front compliment’.
On the same topic, I’ve got one more thing to mention.
In England, bus operator First Norwich has launched the new Enviro400 City with a diesel Scania chassis.
We're with @FirstNorwich today at the launch of the new fleet for the excel route. We teamed up with @ScaniaUK to build the City style Enviro400 body on their diesel chassis for the first time as the basis for a premium product designed inside and out by @creatingdesire. pic.twitter.com/eRAFMUoytR— Alexander Dennis (@ADLbus) January 29, 2020
A fantastic new look and feel for @FirstNorwich Excel unveiled today. Now that’s what I call creating desire! pic.twitter.com/rDSVWUvo84— Best Impressions (@creatingdesire) January 29, 2020
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