Alexander Dennis has delivered three Enviro100EVs to Go South Coast for its Salisbury Reds fleet as part of a wider investment by the operator in electric buses.
With 354kWh batteries coupled to the Driventic Vehicle Electrical Drive System (VEDS), the 8.5m long and 2.35m wide buses can travel up to 285 miles on a single charge.
Each one has 26 seats, including tip-ups in the wheelchair bay, and have a total capacity of 45 passengers.
Their manoeuvrability will be of advantage on the buses’ allocated routes Red4, Red6 and Red8, which provide access to housing estates and neighbouring villages.
Salisbury Reds is an operating brand of Go South Coast, a subsidiary of the Go-Ahead Group.
The three Alexander Dennis Enviro100EV are part of a larger drive to electrify the Salisbury Reds fleet, with a total of 30 electric buses entering service this year.
This electrification is partly funded by the government’s Zero-Emission Regional Bus Areas (ZEBRA) scheme.
A total investment of £15 million is being made in new vehicles and modernising the Salisbury depot.
Ed Wills, Go South Coast Managing Director, said, “These smaller buses are the first of our 30 brand new electric vehicles, following our successful bid, in partnership with Wiltshire Council, for funding from the Department for Transport’s ZEBRA 2 scheme.
“The new vehicles will enable us to serve more challenging routes – giving even more of our customers the opportunity to opt for sustainable transport.
“They have a distinct appearance, and those living in or visiting Salisbury and the surrounding area will be sure to notice them.”
