The first five of the 37 electric double-decker buses supplied by the BYD ADL joint venture to London operator Metroline entered passenger service on July 3.
The Enviro 400EV bus is being assembled at the Alexander Denis plant in Scarborough using the power chassis supplied by BYD's Komarom plant in Hungary.
The aluminum vehicle is 10.9 meters long, 2 550 mm wide and 4.3 meters high with 67 seats. BYD's 382 kWh iron phosphate battery provides up to 260 km of cruising range.
The first five buses have been operated on Highway 14.5, which runs between the London Bridge in the city centre and Friern Barnet in the north of London. These vehicles are stable in Metroline's Holloway garage.
According to Stanley Ho, Managing Director of BYD Europe, the red double-decker bus in London is a true symbol of the city and a world-famous iconic vehicle. “The BYD ADL Enviro400EV retains the soul of the London double-decker bus and is updated with 21st century technology.”
