lrizar and Go-Ahead London have signed an agreement for two lrizar i2e electric buses to be put into operation in London from the end of July.
The lrizar i2e buses are fully manufactured with lrizar group’s own technology, and add to those delivered in Europe in 2014. The all-electric buses will go on to high-frequency routes 507, connecting Waterloo station to Victoria Station and 521, connecting Waterloo Station with London Bridge Station.
The 12-metre buses feature continuous low floors and two double doors, with an electric ramp located at the centre door. The electric motor has 180kW of power and the batteries have storage 282kWh of storage, which give the buses a range of between 160km and
180km under typical London traffic conditions. As a new feature, they also incorporate a heating/cooling unit for the driver area and anti-vandalism lock.
lrizar has configured the vehicles for TfL and Go-Ahead with 26 seats and one wheelchair place, to give a total passenger capacity of 60. The vehicle will incorporate the on-board fleet management systems and telemetry which are standard in London bus operation.
Mike Weston, TFL’s Director of Buses, said: “London has always been at the forefront of adopting and trialing new green technology. As the number of electric buses in our fleet grows we are learning more about how they can help us to improve services and benefit our customers.”
The i2es are the first buses handled by lrizar subsidiary lrizar UK. Director Steve O’Neill said: “Our new Bus Project Manager, John Horn, has brought his vast experience in bus sales in the UK to lrizar’s bus team in Spain to ensure these vehicles are appropriate for the London operating environment and we are confident they will continue the success in Europe.
“Going forward, we expect to see rapid development of i2e sales in the UK, with a number of local authorities showing an interest in running emissions-free buses in urban and metropolitan areas.”
Richard Harrington, Go-Ahead London’s Engineering Director, said: “London’s buses are in the process of being transformed into the most environmentally friendly fleet in the world. We were the first operator in the capital to run pure electric vehicles and 18 months of reliable service has proved this form of power as a viable solution.
“Irizar’s entry into this market is welcome and I look forward to working with them to deliver benefits to all Londoners.”
Hector Olabegogeaskoetxea, Irizar’s ElectromobilIity Manager , added: “This is an important step for lrizar because it helps us develops a product and service which meets the demanding specifications of Go-Ahead and the regulations in the UK, as well as providing the safety, reliability, comfort and autonomy of all lrizar products.”
