Larbert, Scotland, UK – 25th February 2021: (TSX: NFI) Alexander Dennis Limited (“ADL”), a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. (“NFI”), one of the world’s leading independent global bus manufacturers, today announced that its next generation double deck hydrogen bus will deliver a zero-emission range of up to 300 miles. It will be powered by a Ballard fuel cell power module through the efficient Voith Electrical Drive System (VEDS).
Designed and fully built in Britain, ADL’s next generation hydrogen double decker – which is being developed under the project name H2.0 and expected to be on the road before the end of the year – supports the development of skills in the growing clean vehicle technology sector and boosts the UK hydrogen economy, while delivering governments’ net zero targets through the carbon-neutral electrification of high-mileage bus routes.
With hydrogen tanks and key components intelligently packaged by the engineers that developed the market’s widest range of clean buses, ADL’s next generation hydrogen bus is an integral vehicle design that perfectly balances weight and maximises saloon space.
Powered by a class-leading Ballard fuel cell power module, it continues ADL’s philosophy of working with only the best in their field. Specified to just the right power output, the fuel cells minimise fuel consumption and maximise performance for lowest total cost of ownership. With fewer higher volume tanks, H2.0 reduces maintenance effort while increasing fuel capacity to deliver increased zero emission range.
H2.0 uses the latest technology in the form of the Voith Electrical Drive System. This boosts energy regeneration during the braking phase and delivers increased efficiency that is further enhanced by advanced thermal management which uses excess heat from the fuel cells and driveline to heat the saloon, minimising additional power requirement.
ADL President & Managing Director, Paul Davies said: “H2.0 is going to be a milestone for zero emission technology with unrivalled efficiency that gives a class-leading range, perfect for high mileage routes that battery technology doesn’t cover.
“Designed and built in Britain, our next generation hydrogen bus will retain investment in our economy and boost skills in clean vehicle technology, a crucial sector for future development as the United Kingdom targets net zero by 2050.”
It’s interesting to see Alexander Dennis have caught up on their double-deck hydrogen bus project; their competitors are Optare and Wrightbus. Wrightbus have now deployed double-deck hydrogens (Streetdeck H2) for bus routes in Aberdeen and Belfast and soon these vehicles will enter service in London and Birmingham.
Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) and BYD UK jointly announced today that their electric vehicle partnership, the UK’s leading electric bus producer, is introducing a shorter version of its successful BYD ADL Enviro400EV double decker. With its more compact wheelbase, the 10.3m long model will increase manoeuvrability when navigating congested roads and tight corners.
ADL is a subsidiary of leading independent global bus manufacturer NFI Group Inc. (NFI), while BYD is a global leader in batteries, energy management and electric mobility. The partnership launched the double deck BYD ADL Enviro400EV in 2019, enabling the electrification of busy bus services. Over 450 of the standard 10.8m version have since been sold to operators in London and other UK cities.
Operators will now have the option of a new version that is just 10.3m long. This new length is achieved with a wheelbase that has been shortened by 50cm to a compact 5.4m, which benefits manoeuvrability in challenging inner-city routes such as in those found in London.
BYD’s dedicated R&D team in the UK has been responsible for the rapid development of the new 10.3m chassis, meeting the requirements of the UK government in its commitment to bring bespoke zero-emissions transport to the nation’s towns and cities. They worked in close collaboration with ADL’s body engineers, who ensured that the battery placement gives optimum weight distribution, while ample power remains available to deliver a full day’s operation.
A demonstrator will be available from the second half of 2021 for operators to trial on their routes.
Paul Davies, ADL President & Managing Director, said: “As bus companies across the United Kingdom make the switch to electric buses with support from national and local government, the BYD ADL partnership is preparing to ‘Build it in Britain’ with complete assembly of electric buses in our facilities here in the country, where it will benefit our local communities, develop skills and secure jobs here in the UK. The new, short-wheelbase option for our electric double decker further ensures operators can rely on us to deliver the buses they need, tailored to their requirements and backed up with best-in-class aftermarket support.”
Managing Director at BYD UK, Frank Thorpe, said, “This latest double deck model demonstrates the close collaboration between BYD and ADL in the UK, and our ability to develop vehicles which meet demands of more and more operators wishing to transition to electrification. The new 10.3m model offers a no-compromise specification for Public Transport Operators with high passenger volumes on congested and restricted route profiles. Above all,” he said,” the BYD ADL Enviro400EV provides passengers with a very safe, quiet, comfortable and emissions-free public transport solution.”
I was quite amazed to see Alexander Dennis have developed a 10.3m (33 ft 9.51 in) variant of the Enviro400EV City product to improve manoeuvrability for bus routes in London. In comparison to the three-door, two-staircase diesel hybrid New Routemaster, the length of the vehicle is 11.2m (36 ft 8.94 in), which is almost 1 metre longer than the short wheelbase Enviro400EV City.
Once the demonstrator is successful, I expect to see more of the 10.3m Enviro400EV City buses selected by bus operators for their London Bus route contracts. I predict the Enviro400EV City will become a common sight not just for Greater London, but many areas throughout Great Britain.
Wrightbus has partnered up with Voith to supply the electric drive system for their battery electric and hydrogen buses.
BALLYMENA, NORTHERN IRELAND. Northern Irish bus manufacturer Wrightbus has chosen Voith as its exclusive partner for the supply of the electrical drive system for the second generation of its battery-electric (BEV) and fuel cell (FCEV) buses for Europe. In future, the company will equip all these vehicles with the Voith Electrical Drive System (VEDS) as standard. As early as August 2021, Wrightbus will deliver the first of 80 StreetDeck BEV double-decker buses with VEDS to Translink, the largest bus operator in Northern Ireland, who plans to operate the new double-decker buses in the public transport networks of Belfast and Derry.
Before awarding the order, the Ballymena-based bus manufacturer analyzed all electrical drive systems available in Europe. It concluded that the VEDS offered the best operating efficiency. “The limiting factor for battery-powered vehicles is the range, which means the efficiency of the drivetrain is the crucial consideration in day-to-day operation. This applies even more to double-decker buses that only have limited space and a restricted weight capacity for additional batteries,” explains Brian Maybin, Head of Advanced Technology at Wrightbus.
In the VEDS, the main motor and inverter form a specially coordinated package that ensures high power availability and maximum range even in the case of challenging driving patterns. The system is based on a powerful water-cooled permanent magnet motor with a high-efficiency inverter. There is no need for a separate transmission, which has a positive effect on energy consumption, range and noise emissions. At the same time, this principle allows for a compact design. This not only makes for easier installation in the Wrightbus double decks , but when used in continuous barrier-free low-floor buses it also makes the VEDS the perfect drive system for the transition to sustainable mobility. The modular system is available in various power classes and is therefore suitable for all vehicle categories. With a maximum power of 340 kW it is one of the most powerful traction systems for buses on the market.
Thanks to the integrated system approach, all VEDS components are perfectly coordinated with one another, from hardware like the electric motor, traction inverter and high-voltage distributor to the drive control and energy management systems. This facilitates integration into the vehicle and ensures a high level of reliability. It also means that the VEDS can be used flexibly in various platforms. The system supports battery systems from a wide range of manufacturers and is also enabled for use in fuel cell electric vehicle drivetrains.
Brian Maybin, Head of Advanced Technology at Wrightbus said "We feel that Voith has made the extra effort to understand our company, our people, our products our customers and our market opportunities."
Wrightbus has enjoyed an excellent partnership with Voith for more than 15 years. For example, the company uses only DIWA transmissions in its buses and has benefited from Voith’s excellent support over the entire product life cycle. This new order is further proof of the successful collaboration between the two companies. At the same time, Voith is playing an important role in helping Translink achieve its self-imposed goal of operating a completely emission-free bus fleet by 2040.
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