The inter-city operator is to trial an electric coach on services between Newport, Bristol and London
FlixBus has announced the launch of its first electric long-distance coach service, the first such route in England and Wales. From 21 March, a specially-liveried Yutong TCe12 belonging to partner operator Newport Transport will be in use on the company’s route between London, Bristol and Newport in South Wales. The trial will run for three months, until June.
Managing Director of FlixBus UK Andreas Schorling said: “This is a huge step forward for the UK coach sector, transforming the already low-carbon mode of transport to zero-emission at the tailpipe through innovative technology. As the first electric long-distance coach service in England and Wales, we’re sending a powerful message about our continued commitment to bring even more sustainable travel options for the public, and our determination to drive forward the change needed to reduce the impact on the climate.”
The 46-seat vehicle includes a toilet, USB charging points and free WiFi. FlixBus estimates it will save 352kg of carbon emissions per day on the route compared to an average diesel-fuelled coach, a reduction of more than 21 tonnes of CO2 over the course of the pilot.
Newport Transport is no stranger to electric vehicle operation, and operates around 60% of its daily local bus services with zero-emission Yutong single-deck buses; it also has U11DD double-deckers on order.
Interim Managing Director at Newport Transport David Jenkins commented: “Flix, as a global leader in travel tech, is the brand with passion and ambition to bring this vision to life, and we are delighted to partner on such a momentous pilot project. Newport Transport has been leading the way in bringing electric vehicles to our network of local bus services in south-east Wales and into England and bringing this electric vehicle to the intercity coach market is the next big step.”
With a battery capacity of 282kWh, giving a theoretical maximum range of around 275km or 170 miles, the coach will be charged at the Transport UK London Bus (formerly Abellio) depot at Battersea in London and at Newport Transport’s South Wales depot.
Jon Eardley, Managing Director of Transport UK London Bus, commented: “We’re delighted to be supporting FlixBus in this project to bring electric vehicles to the long-distance coach market, being charged using our ultra-fast state-of-the-art chargers.”
FlixBus parent company Flix has already piloted electric vehicles in several markets and aims to achieve carbon neutrality throughout Europe by 2040. “Coach travel is already a fantastic option because it’s comfortable, sustainable, and more affordable than other forms of transport. However, this pilot project sets us apart and we’re really proud to be leading the way on vehicle transformation,” added Andreas.
Flix reports €2bn revenue in 2023
FlixBus parent company Flix has announced its preliminary financial results for 2023. It reports a 30% total revenue growth in 2023 and, for the first time, reached €2 billion in annual total revenue, ahead of its expectations for growth of more than 25%.
Last year, the company reports that 81 million passengers travelled to over 5,600 destinations on its FlixBus, FlixTrain, North American Greyhound, and Turkish Kamil Koc services, representing a growth of 34% compared to 2022. The company achieved an Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) of €104 million, representing an increase of €97 million compared to 2022. “Our strong annual results show that we have the right strategy in place, which we have been executing over the last eleven years,” said co-founder and CEO André Schwämmlein. “Last year’s performance reinforces Flix’s success story as a leading global travel tech company. Based on our tech foundation, we want to strengthen our position as a global leader, driving sustainable and affordable travel for everyone.”
In Europe, the company achieved total revenue growth of 46% to €1,186 million, which it says has been driven by an exceptionally strong increase in passenger numbers to 55 million, an increase of 41% compared to 2022. During 2023, Flix also launched operations in Finland and Greece.
In the USA, Canada and Mexico, 12 million people travelled with FlixBus and Greyhound in 2023, approximately 36% more than in 2022, meaning that total revenue increased by 11% to €615 million, supported by improved network management following the full migration of Greyhound into the Flix booking platform in February 2023.
In Türkiye, 14 million people, an 8% increase on 2022, travelled with Flix, generating a total revenue of €189 million, a growth of 15% compared to 2022.
Flix says its launch in Chile was one of the most successful market entries ever for the brand, with high bus utilisation and an on-time performance surpassing that of Europe in the first weeks of operations. Its most recent new market is India, where it launched in early February 2024.
