Jonathan Welch puts one of Ember’s new fleet of Yutong GTe14 electric coaches through its paces in Scotland
Ember, which launched its first inter-city services in October 2020 using a fully electric fleet, has made a name for itself as a company which does things differently. While existing inter-city operators have dabbled in zero-emission technology with trials of electric vehicles, Ember’s business model since its inception in 2019 has been to operate an all-electric fleet, with its operations planned around the vehicles’ charging requirements.
The company began with a Dundee-Edinburgh service, which at 140 miles for a round trip was well within the abilities of its initial fleet of Yutong TCe12 electric coaches. A Dundee-Glasgow service followed, which at around 165 miles for a round trip pushed closer to the coaches’ claimed maximum range of 200 miles.
From the start, Ember promised a network of electric coach services throughout Scotland, with destinations including Inverness, Fort William and Aberdeen mooted, though clearly these were beyond the capability of the 281kWh batteries of the TCe12. Having built up a fleet of 24 TCe12s, in July 2023 the company announced an order for 14 new tri-axle Yutong GTe14s, which offer a step up in terms of seating and luggage capacity for Ember’s Edinburgh-Aberdeen service. They are equipped with liquid-cooled battery packs providing 563kWh of power and a claimed maximum range of up to 280 miles; an optional 621kWh battery pack is also available. As is usual for Yutong products, the batteries are produced by CATL, a company with which Yutong’s in-house engineers work closely.
Delivered through Pelican Bus & Coach, the coaches made their UK début in early 2024 alongside a demonstrator initially trialled by National Express, and began a period of testing before being introduced to service in advance of the start of Aberdeen services in October. Naturally, CBW was keen to get our hands on one for a test drive, and shortly before Ember launched its Aberdeen services, we were invited to head to the company’s new electric depot in the city’s Bridge of Don for a closer look at one of the new coaches.
Initial impressions
The Yutong name has become a familiar one on the UK’s roads over the last decade, with a significant number of GT12 coaches already in use, so the looks and styling of the GTe14 will be familiar to many. Immediately noticeable on approaching the coach is the lack of conventional mirrors; the GTe14 comes fitted with a camera mirror system, reducing drag and aiding efficiency at motorway speeds.
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