Falcon Buses rolls out first electric buses – and depot upgrades
According to Falcon, 13 fully electric Alexander Dennis Enviro200EVs will soon enter deployment on its bus routes across Surrey. The British-built electric buses are 10.9m long, have capacity for up to 37 seated passengers, and ample accessible space. They also utilise a heat pump system for full air-conditioning and to support the batteries and electric driveline.
The transport operator states that the buses will enter operation from the end of this month, starting with Route 436 between Weybridge and Woking. Later this summer, they will also be deployed on Route 461 between Kingston, Walton on Thames, Weybridge, Addlestone, and St Peters Hospital.
Acquisition of the buses was supported by funding from Surrey County Council and the Department for Transport’s ZEBRA 2 scheme. Charging infrastructure for Falcon’s Byfleet depot was delivered by commercial fleet electrification company VEV. There, it installed a ‘complete charging solution’ comprised of a dedicated 1500kVA power supply plus six 60kW and three 120kW chargers.
Richard Telling, Managing Director at Falcon Buses, said: “This is a hugely significant milestone for Falcon. Introducing our first electric buses marks the beginning of a new chapter for the business and demonstrates our commitment to delivering cleaner, quieter and more sustainable transport for the communities we serve. Working with VEV has enabled us to build the infrastructure we need not only for the first 13 electric buses entering service today, but for the continued growth of our fleet over the coming months and years as we work towards our goal of an all-electric bus fleet by 2033.”
Mark Taylor, Regional Sales Manager for Alexander Dennis, added: “The Enviro200 has been the backbone of Falcon’s fleet and many other successful bus operations across the country, and it has earned that position because it is practical, dependable and efficient. With the Enviro200EV, we have taken those same strengths and carried them forward into a zero-emission platform designed for the demands of daily service.”
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