First double decker electric bus fleet launched by National Express and Zenobe Energy in Birmingham
Transport operator National Express Group and Zenobe Energy, a leading UK owner and operator of battery storage, announce the launch of an electric fleet of double decker buses for commuters and residents who use the number 6 bus in Yardley Wood, Birmingham. The first users have now completed the route, helping to improve air quality in areas across south Birmingham. The project brings a total of 19 double decker electric buses to the area.
National Express Group, which pledged to transition to a fully zero-emission UK bus fleet by 2030, is piloting this first electric fleet in its home city of Birmingham. This will help further Birmingham’s commitment to become a net-zero city by 2030.
Zenobe powers 25% of the EV bus market in the UK. For National Express West Midlands, Zenobe supplied an end-to-end solution including batteries, the charging system at the depot and a software platform to help optimise energy use. It’s the first example of a turnkey solution for fleet electrification.
National Express operates bus, coach and train services across the UK, Europe and the United States. In Birmingham, National Express is bringing Zenobe-powered buses onto the bus route 6 (from Carrs Lane in Birmingham city centre to Solihull town centre). The brand-new double decker buses are manufactured by Alexander Dennis Ltd (ADL) and BYD Europe.
