First zero emission bus fleet for city is nearing completion

The first-ever zero emission bus fleet for Leeds is being prepared to enter service in a multi-million pound investment by First Bus in partnership with West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Leeds City Council.

The nine Yutong E10 electric vehicles (EV) are supplied by Pelican Coach & Bus, a family-owned engineering company based in Castleford which has a 100-year history in transport and is the exclusive distributor in the UK for the Chinese-made buses.

Electricity charging infrastructure for the fleet is nearing completion at First’s Hunslet Park depot in the city.

The equipment and installation are being managed by Zenobe Energy, a tech start-up that entered the market four years ago.

A battery energy storage system (BESS), comprising two giant Tesla batteries, will support the power requirements including fleet charging and grid services.

Total investment in the fleet and infrastructure is £7.3m. This includes £1.7m funding from the Department of Transport’s Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme which First West Yorkshire secured in 2019 with the support of the combined authority.

Simon Carlisle, engineering director of First West Yorkshire, said: “This is the first phase of our plan to bring zero emission buses into our fleet operations to further benefit the cleaner air ambitions of Leeds.

“We have worked closely with our local authority partners and leaders in their fields in Pelican and Zenobe Energy to combine vehicle, battery and charging technology that heralds a new era in public transport from our Hunslet depot.”

The Yutong E10 boasts innovative battery technology on-board which stores energy generated when applying the brakes.

The bus can travel 200 miles on a single charge and is estimated to save 45 tonnes of carbon a year compared to a Euro 6 diesel engine.

Ian Downie, Pelican’s Head of Yutong Bus UK, said: “It is with great pleasure that we can deliver these state-of-the-art zero emission vehicles to First Bus.

“It is a real demonstration of First’s commitment to the environment that these vehicles will soon be in operation in Leeds.”

Zenobe Energy has agreed a contract using its infrastructure-as-a-service-model to provide support to First West Yorkshire.

It includes match-funding the infrastructure and battery service costs for the life of vehicle, which has an eight-year warranty.

Business development director, Arron Dowie, said: “Zenobe is proud to be partnering with First West Yorkshire to support their active transition to a zero emission bus fleet.

“The electrification of buses is a vital part of producing cleaner air in Leeds. We are encouraged by First’s pioneering vision to implement environmentally friendly transport infrastructure across the UK and Zenobe is excited to be a part of their journey.”

Councillor Kim Groves, chairman of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee, said: “These nine electric buses are the first zero emission buses in West Yorkshire and an important first step towards a zero carbon public transport network.

“It’s more important than ever that we reduce emissions which impact on health by reducing unnecessary car journeys across the region.”

Leeds City Council’s executive board member for climate change, transport and sustainable development, Councillor Lisa Mulherin, said: “I am delighted to see the first zero emission electric buses begin to be rolled out in Leeds.

“Over the next year I look forward to seeing more of these operating from our new 1,200 space Stourton solar-powered Park and Ride site.

“It will make more and more people’s journeys greener and enhance our efforts to keep the air cleaner in Leeds.”

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