National Express West Midlands’ (NXWM) year-long trial of ADL Enviro200 MMCs fitted with Voith Turbo stop-start technology has been described by the operator’s Head of Engineering as “extremely successful.”
The Birmingham-based operator has been acting as the bus industry’s guinea pig, testing what are believed to be the first buses in the world fitted with stop-start transmission.
Since the two buses entered service at Acock’s Green garage more than a year ago, they have clocked up over 80,000 miles on routes 71 and 72 routes between Solihull and Birmingham.
Colin Saward, Head of Engineering at NXWM, said: “Our company is totally committed to playing a full part in helping to clean up our air – especially in the centre of Birmingham. Therefore, fitting stop-start technology to our buses was imperative. This technology cuts fuel consumption by 10%, and hence slashes harmful emissions.
“The stop-start gearbox trial was extremely successful, so every one of the 96 double-deckers we bought this year comes with these stop-start gearboxes.”
NXWM is also a crucial part of the West Midlands Combined Authority Low Emission Bus Delivery Plan. This strategy recently won the 2016 National Air Quality Award for Passenger Transport.
Steve Hayes, Network Development and Delivery Manager for Transport for West Midlands, said: “Our Low Emission Bus Delivery Plan was recognised as being industry-leading, with particular recognition given to our partnership approach with bus operators and local authorities.”
