BYD gets UK’s largest electric bus order

BYD UK and Alexander Dennis Limited will deliver the UK’s largest-ever electric bus order this summer.

BYD UK and Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL), a subsidiary of global bus manufacturer NFI Group Inc., jointly confirmed that their electric vehicle partnership will deliver the UK’s largest-ever electric bus order. The order has been placed by RATP Dev London, one of Transport for London (TfL)’s principal bus operators, for a total of 195 single and double deck vehicles.

With this order, RATP Dev London confirms its commitment to supporting TfL’s electrification plan for London’s bus network, a key objective of the Mayor’s Transport Strategy for 2018, under which all TfL buses will be zero emissions by 2037, with all of London’s transport becoming emissions-free by 2037.

The record order comes as the BYD ADL partnership continues, utilizing BYD’s battery electric driveline technology and ADL’s British-built bodies. In London alone, over 400 BYD ADL electric buses have cumulatively covered over 20 million zero-emission miles, with close to another 300 vehicles on order including this latest intake for RATP Dev London. RATP Dev London will be the largest operator of electric buses in London by the beginning of 2022, with close to 25% of its London United and London Sovereign fleet fully electric.

Deliveries of RATP Dev London’s latest BYD ADL fleet will begin in the summer. Sixty-eight BYD ADL Enviro200EV single deck buses – including 21 compact 33 ft. models – and 127 BYD ADL Enviro400EV double-deckers will be based at RATP Dev London’s Fulwell, Harrow and Shepherd’s Bush depots to serve routes in the west of the capital. The buses will join 36 existing BYD ADL single decks in service since 2018 and 29 BYD ADL double decks delivered last year.

“Electrification is a critical part of our business and partnership with Transport for London (TfL),” said Catherine Chardon, managing director of RATP Dev London. “We launched our two first 100% electric routes less than two years ago, as well as London’s first fully electric 24-hour double-decker bus route last year. By the beginning of 2022, we will operate 15 zero emission routes and have five of our garages converted to electric. This agreement will help RATP Dev London position itself as the leading electric bus services provider in the city. We are proud to work hand in hand with TfL to help London achieve its sustainability goals.”

“Naturally, this is a hugely significant moment in the development of the BYD brand in the UK,” said BYD UK Managing Director Frank Thorpe. “Public transport in the capital often provides the blueprint for other towns and cities and the fact that a major operator like RATP Dev is making such a substantial commitment to eMobility will, I believe, resonate with Local Authorities across the UK. The increasing electrification of routes by TfL operators is delivering long-term productivity to their fleets and real environmental benefits for Londoners.”