HONG KONG
Hong Kong bus operator KMB, in full The Kowloon Motor Bus Company (1933) Limited, has officially started passenger service of its Alexander Dennis Enviro500EV electric buses. Following completion of testing and after passing the vehicle type assessment of Hong Kong’s Transport Department, the first of KMB’s 10 next-generation Alexander Dennis Enviro500EV electric double-deck buses entered service on route 112 between North Point and Cheung Sha Wan on Saturday 11 May 2024.
Alexander Dennis Asia Pacific Managing Director Andrew Boulton said: “The introduction of our Enviro500EV is a fantastic milestone in KMB’s Green Transport development as it gives Hong Kong passengers a zero-emission, electric bus with the same seating capacity as the city’s internal combustion engine-powered double-deckers. Combined with a modern interior design and latest safety features, this enhances the travel experience for KMB’s customers.”
The three-axle Enviro500EV for Hong Kong has been designed in-house by Alexander Dennis and fully built in the company’s production network. It is an integral battery-electric double decker which utilises the heavy-duty variant of the efficient Voith Electrical Drive System, giving it a peak power output of 410kW which makes it suitable for the high and low-speed duty cycles and topographical challenges of Hong Kong.
It combines this with 472kWh batteries that are assembled by Impact Clean Power Technology to a future-proof Alexander Dennis proprietary design and fitted smartly within the bus, avoiding intrusion into the passenger space to increase room for passengers and deliver a conventional saloon seating layout. In KMB’s specification, the Enviro500EV seats 82 passengers and has room for two wheelchair users, reaching a total passenger capacity of 122.
Safety equipment includes driver fatigue reminder and driving assistance systems, and all seats are fitted with seat belts. The Enviro500EV also provides free 5G WiFi internet access and wood-effect floors that match the colour of the seats and add a modern feel, allowing passengers to enjoy an environmentally friendly, comfortable, quiet and safe bus journey.
Andrew added: “We are very proud to be a long-standing business partner of KMB and this pioneering electric bus development is yet another milestone in our relationship. Our next-generation Enviro500EV has been fully adapted to KMB’s requirements to ensure it delivers the capacity needed on busy routes while elevating comfort to a new level. This is another leap forward for green transport in Hong Kong.”