McGills-owned Xplore Dundee has taken its first steps on the road to electrification with 12 BYD ADL double-deckers
Xplore Dundee has launched its fleet of 12 new high quality battery-electric double deckers which are set to operate on the city’s first zero emission bus route. The operator’s service 28 will see the benefit of its £7m investment, helping improve air quality and supporting the wider net zero ambitions of Xplore Dundee parent company McGill’s.
Managing Director of Xplore Dundee Christine McGlasson said: “This is a milestone moment for us at Xplore Dundee – we are so proud to bring these electric double deckers to Dundee, the first of their kind for the city. Our fleet is now three-quarters low or zero-emission. We believe that buses are the solution to pollution and as part of the McGill’s Group, we intend to continue investing in our fleet to provide a cleaner, greener public transport offering to the people of Dundee.”
The unveiling of the new fleet follows a year on from Xplore Dundee’s acquisition from National Express by Sandy and James Easdale’s McGill’s group. During that period, McGill’s has invested a total of £32.5million, assisted by some grant funding from the Scottish Government, in 68 all-electric buses for its operations across Scotland. James Easdale, Chair of McGill’s Group, said: “We led the way in introducing clean Euro VI fleet and by the end of 2021, the McGill’s Group is operating more electric buses than any other company in Scotland. We firmly believe the new electric fleet will entice more people to leave their car keys at home and switch to the bus. Electric buses bring a new level of passenger experience, including air conditioning and USB charging, coupled with a whisper quiet journey. It’s an exciting time for McGill’s as we continue to invest and grow the business even further.”
The 12 BYD ADL Enviro400EVs to be used in Dundee are all scheduled to have been delivered by the end of the month, with a view to hitting the streets early in January 2022 once driver training is complete.
ADL Sales Account Manager Charlie Miller added: “We’re delighted that Dundee is another city on the road to net zero thanks to this investment by Xplore Dundee. Built in Falkirk, these buses have boosted skilled jobs and apprenticeships in Scottish manufacturing as well as benefiting residents in Dundee and helping to mitigate climate change – they’re really a win for everyone.”
Frank Thorpe, Managing Director, BYD UK, commented: “We strive to play our part in making a difference through practical and viable electric mobility solutions to address climate change. To think that BYD ADL zero-emission electric buses will make such a valuable contribution to clean air in such a recognised polluted route, is a very positive step forward. We are excited that Xplore Dundee has chosen BYD ADL e-buses in pursuit of their zero-emission goals for green transportation and pleased to support them on their ongoing electric journey.”
A total of £7 million has been invested in the new vehicles and the associated charging infrastructure for the Dundee depot. McGill’s says it has big plans to continue to upgrade and modernise the Xplore fleet. CEO Ralph Roberts said: “How the people of Dundee want to move around is changing and as a mobility company we must keep up with those changing requirements. At McGill’s we’re determined to be at the cutting edge of developments in bus technology and we’ll continue to provide a high quality bus service for the city of Dundee which is modern, safe and provides a viable, greener alternative to the private car. This is the beginning of a significant shift towards zero-emission public transport in Dundee and we’re very proud to be at the forefront of that.”
