HONG KONG
Alexander Dennis (ADL) is to build an initial fleet of 10 electric double deck buses for Hong Kong operator The Kowloon Motor Bus Company (KMB). The zero-emission Enviro500EVs will be ADL’s first electric double deck buses in the Asia-Pacific region and will continue a long tradition for the manufacturer in the Hong Kong bus market.
The 10 battery-electric tri-axle Enviro500EV air-conditioned double deckers will be delivered to KMB in 2023 and will come with features that ADL said will continue to raise the bar for efficiency, safety and comfort. Whereas previous deliveries of battery-electric buses have been in partnership with BYD, ADL said that the buses will be fully integrated in-house by its own engineering team and will introduce a striking new design language reflecting their zero emission credentials. Each of the integral Enviro500EVs will be able to carry up to 130 passengers, maintaining the high capacity needed for Hong Kong’s busy bus services.
ADL has had a strong presence in Hong Kong for more than half a century, bringing vehicle air conditioning to the market as well as low floor access for two and three-axle double deckers and hybrid drivelines. With its latest development, ADL is maintaining its long-standing partnership with KMB, the largest franchised bus operator in Hong Kong. KMB operates on over 400 routes with a fleet of around 4,000 buses, most of them double deckers including more than 2,500 diesel-powered Enviro500 buses.
ADL President and Managing Director Paul Davies said: “We are delighted that KMB is continuing its commitment to innovation by choosing ADL for the development of an electric double decker that will meet Hong Kong’s demanding operational requirements, which are among the toughest in the world. With the next generation of electric bus technology, fully integrated by our own engineers, we are now in a position to deliver a zero-emission solution for Hong Kong’s world class transport system.”
