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| Enviro Max - Alexander Dennis and Volvo |
Some of my followers on social media may have already noticed that I have published images of a new body design by Alexander Dennis, named the Enviro Max, which uses the BZL Electric articulated chassis. For some people scrolling through social media, this reveal may have come as a bit of a shock.
Let's take a read about it from the Alexander Dennis website:
Alexander Dennis, a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc., today announced that it is working with Volvo Buses to explore the development of a tram-style electric bus for the UK market, designed to support high-capacity, zero-tailpipe emission rapid transit solutions with a lower infrastructure requirement.
As part of a feasibility study, Volvo Buses has made its BZL Electric articulated chassis available to Alexander Dennis to assess how it could be combined with the latter’s engineering expertise and UK manufacturing capability through a new body design, the Enviro Max. The articulated chassis is a higher-capacity format of Volvo’s established BZL Electric rigid platform.
The initiative is intended to assess appetite for a high-capacity, zero-tailpipe emission vehicle designed to support bus rapid transit corridors. By using existing road space and avoiding the need for rails, track beds and overhead line infrastructure, they present an attractive and cost-effective option for local authorities looking to enhance public transport capacity and connectivity.
Paul Davies, President & Managing Director at Alexander Dennis, said: “This feasibility work gives us an opportunity to consider how our experience in designing and building buses could be combined with Volvo Buses’ electric chassis technology. As part of this, we will be able to draw on the extensive experience that our NFI Group sister company New Flyer has with articulated buses.
“Our new Enviro Max would offer combined and local authorities a stunning zero-tailpipe-emission rapid transit solution that supports British manufacturing and benefits the wider economy by keeping investment in the country. We believe there is a role for bus rapid transit schemes alongside our conventional Enviro-family single and double-deck buses, and we look forward to engaging with customers and stakeholders to understand their requirements.”
Richard Mann, Sales Director at Volvo Bus UK & Ireland, said: “We are seeing increasing interest from local authorities in tram-style electric bus systems that can deliver the visibility, capacity and passenger appeal associated with tram-style systems, while offering a more flexible and lower-infrastructure route to delivery. Following the successful introduction of the Volvo BZL Electric articulated chassis in Australia earlier this year, we are now exploring with Alexander Dennis how this proven electric platform could support a tram-inspired product tailored to the UK market.”
Designed for high-capacity urban and interurban applications, the Volvo BZL Electric articulated chassis supports a complete vehicle length of around 18 metres for the proposed Enviro Max body configuration.
It offers a permitted gross vehicle weight of 30,000kg and is powered by Volvo’s EPT802 dual-motor driveline, delivering up to 400 kW of output and 850 Nm of torque, through a two-speed automated manual transmission. The chassis can be specified with up to 12 lithium-iron-phosphate battery packs, providing up to 530 kWh of installed energy, with charging options including CCS2 plugs at up to 250 kW and OppCharge pantographs at up to 450 kW.
The Alexander Dennis Enviro Max body will extend the proven benefits of the Enviro family’s body construction to a rapid transit solution, allowing operators to benefit from excellent maintenance access and parts commonality to make servicing and repairs easy.
The Enviro Max will blend form and function with an eye-catching design. It will offer inclusive spaces for all passengers and the manufacturers will work with stakeholders and customers to determine suitable vehicle layouts supporting operational requirements and existing infrastructure.
Volvo Buses and Alexander Dennis have a long-standing relationship in the UK bus market, including previous work on the high-capacity Enviro400XLB double-decker built on the Volvo B8L chassis. The feasibility study marks the next step in that partnership, focused on a new generation of ultra-efficient, high-capacity rapid transit vehicles.
Read more
Why the tram-style design?
Firstly, despite the storm on social media, it is indeed a bendy bus! The sloped front end creates a tram-style appearance, paired with fairings (also known as fender skirts and spats) covering the wheels to give it a tram-like look, even if it does increase maintenance time. I also believe it will enhance safety standards by helping to prevent objects or people getting trapped under the wheels.
The reason they look 'tram-style' is because Transport for London's Bus Safety Standard requires new buses to have a sloped front-end design to reduce the impact of injuries, which is why they look similar to a tram. 🤔 tfl.gov.uk/corporate/tr... tfl.gov.uk/corporate/pr...
— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) October 23, 2026 at 8:37 AM
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Some people might mistake a rail vehicle like the Pacer for a bus due to its design. The earliest versions used Leyland National bodywork and were known as railbuses by British Rail.
I published an article in 2024 showing that sloped front ends are part of Transport for London's (TfL) Bus Safety Standards to reduce injuries, and TfL has since updated the specification for version 2.7 of their New Bus Vehicle Specification, which I reviewed in a previous article.
Alexander Dennis and Volvo are taking up the challenge against competitors like Irizar, Yutong, and potentially the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) with their Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) systems, often called trackless trains. They are all competing for potential contracts to supply articulated vehicles for upcoming Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services.
Several areas across the UK are proposing Bus Rapid Transit schemes:
• Hertfordshire Essex Rapid Transit (HERT)
• Aberdeen Rapid Transit (ART)
• West Midlands Sprint (Phase 2)
• Central Gloucestershire MRT
• Reading South Reading BRT
• Mass transit proposals for the West of England, including Bristol
On 13 March 2026, the West Midlands Combined Authority approved 24 tram-style electric Sprint buses and charging infrastructure. The scheme aims to deliver faster, greener, reliable journeys, improve accessibility and cut emissions, with services expected in October 2027. https://t.co/PxHOYhs3iY
— CLondoner92 (@CLondoner92) March 24, 2026
🚆🚌 The West of England has set out a new transport vision focused on better buses, more trains and a future mass transit system. Backed by £752m, the plan aims to cut congestion, support growth and deliver a more reliable, joined-up network. 🚈🚉 https://t.co/jXWsN3KEpM https://t.co/VoxwFlKwlH
— CLondoner92 (@CLondoner92) February 12, 2026
As for London, there are no updates on whether TfL intends to reinstate bendy buses, especially given that I recently reported the East London Transit routes will continue using the three-door, two-staircase hybrid New Routemaster buses as part of the new route contract retained by Go-Ahead Blue Triangle.
Bendy buses may be controversial in London, especially for cyclists, but they would be very useful on routes with wider roads when paired with enhanced safety standards. This includes introducing them on the Superloop network. My point is that since TfL requires Direct Vision Standards for heavy goods vehicles, including articulated lorries, there should be no reason why they cannot reintroduce bendy buses to the capital's roads. TfL should look into trialling them again. The idea of bendy buses in London has been around since the 1970s, followed by trials in the early 1990s and full service in the 2000s, before the final route was withdrawn in 2011.
In July 1977, a Danish-built, Leyland-engined articulated bus (18m/59ft) was demonstrated in South #Yorkshire and #London. Carrying 150 passengers, it required a special permit due to its length over 12.2m (40ft). London #Transport considered it for Red Arrow Merlin replacement.
— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) July 23, 2025 at 6:15 PM
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Clipping from #London Transport (LT) News, No. 105 (August 5 1977): A bendy bus from Denmark visited LT's Chiswick Works maintenance facility for evaluation trials. It was also suggested that bendy buses be introduced on Red Arrow routes in Central London.
— CLondoner92 (@clondoner92.bsky.social) November 28, 2024 at 1:34 AM
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Trams remain vital
Trams should indeed be prioritised as part of new transport infrastructure, but unfortunately funding has been far too centralised by HM Treasury. This forces local authorities to go through lengthy consultations and business plans just to get approval for funding. That is why the UK government established the Mass Transit Taskforce in collaboration with the Urban Transport Group to tackle barriers to the quick and efficient delivery of mass transit systems across the UK, supporting economic growth, jobs, and new homes. However, any structural changes to how local transport authorities are funded or granted powers, such as devolved fiscal capabilities or statutory planning reform under the Transport and Works Act Order process, will depend on new legislation being passed by Parliament.
In West Yorkshire, plans for a mass transit tram network connecting Leeds and Bradford are progressing through route consultations and early design stages, with early enabling works targeted for 2028 ahead of a planned full opening in the late 2030s.
My suggestions also extend to reviving the transit schemes in London that were proposed in the early 2000s but never delivered.
#TfL Light Transit Proposals, published in 2005 at the House of Commons Select Committee on Transport Written Evidence https://t.co/fF1U8OIkUr https://t.co/Rp1OFD3hwq
— CLondoner92 (@CLondoner92) March 18, 2022
I suggest that Alexander Dennis and Volvo look into designing and developing a tram version of the Enviro Max that uses steel wheels instead of rubber tyres.
To build on that, bus manufacturers should also design and build a three-door, two-staircase double-deck electric bus. This would provide TfL with an option to replace the New Routemasters while retaining key accessibility features and reducing dwell times at bus stops on busy routes.
I would like to extend an invite for you to follow me on X (formerly Twitter) for transport-related updates. You can find me by searching for @CLondoner92 or by clicking on the direct link to my X page here. I am also present on BlueSky and Mastodon. I look forward to connecting with you on these platforms. Thank you for your support.
Further reading
Making A Case For New Rapid Transit Lines (Including New Tram Lines) By Increasing Bus Priority Measures
My Standards for Providing Bus Services: Tailoring Vehicle Types and Door Configurations to Meet Route Needs
