National Express is trialling a battery-electric Mercedes-Benz eCitaro bus on its shuttle service linking Stansted Airport’s long-stay car park with the terminal.
The one-month pilot sees the existing diesel Citaro replaced with a one-door eCitaro, operating on the landside passenger transfer service, travelling an average of about 180 miles per day.
Stansted’s eCitaro – a low-floor battery-electric city bus equipped with electric traction and regenerative braking – is powered using electricity from renewable sources.
During the trial, National Express and London Stansted Airport will monitor the bus’s energy consumption, charging requirements, reliability and availability.
Feedback from passengers and operational staff also forms part of the assessment.
National Express parent company Mobico Group has set an ambition for a net-zero fleet across its businesses by 2040 through its Climate Transition Plan.
Rafael Fernandez, Managing Director of National Express, said, “We’re committed to exploring more sustainable ways of delivering passenger transport for our airport partners, and this trial is an important step in understanding where battery-electric technology can work effectively on a high-demand service pattern.
“Over the course of the trial we’ll be looking closely at the vehicle’s performance, energy use and charging requirements, alongside feedback from passengers and our operational teams.
“The findings will help us understand the practical considerations for introducing battery-electric vehicles in this particular operating environment.”
Nick Millar, Operations Director at London Stansted, said, “We’re pleased to support this trial with National Express, which will help us better understand how battery-electric bus technology performs in a busy airport environment.
“The long-stay shuttle service is an ideal route to test the operational requirements of electric vehicles, and the insights gained will help inform future decisions as we continue working towards our net-zero carbon ambitions.”
