Solihull-based LandFlight Travel Services has taken delivery of a new 50-seat Yutong TCe12 coach, which is now in service on daily commuter routes for its corporate clients. Feedback from drivers and passengers has been incredibly positive, the firm says, not just due to the lack of emissions but also due to the quietness of the coach, which is powered solely by a 281kWh battery.
Day-to-day charging is undertaken at LandFlight’s base in Solihull, with a full charge enabling the coach to reach a claimed range in excess of 200 miles. LandFlight director Danny Matthews said: “Being fully electric means zero emissions when the coach is travelling, so this really is a very important leap forward in the West Midlands region to greener coach travel. However, the first thing most passengers notice when travelling on our new electric coach is the silence as there’s no engine.
“Our drivers are also really enjoying it behind the wheel. They undergo special training to familiarise themselves with driving an electric coach but it is actually quite similar to driving a diesel model.”
Recognising the need to invest in a greener future, Danny added: “The West Midlands Combined Authority has set milestone dates for all regional buses to be zero-emission by 2033 at the very latest, but there is currently no such date for coaches. As a business, and as an industry, we need to push forward with zero-emission coach travel and introduce new technology to reduce emissions where possible.”
