Arriva Liverpool is in for a shock as an influx of electric vehicles are due to be delivered. Wrightbus’ StreetAir has already been delivered and a Yutong will arrive in January 2017 – both are to be trialled on a variety of routes around the city.
As mentioned in CBW‘s Euro Bus Expo 2016 review, Wrightbus handed over the first StreetAir EV for route testing with Arriva Liverpool for three months. The vehicle will be trialled on a range of different routes before moving on to Arriva London.
Built on the StreetDeck chassis platform and featuring a Siemens ELFA 2 electric drive system, the vehicle is a 10.6m two door forward with TfL specification. The StreetAir EV has a maximum capacity of 72 with 23 seated and 49 standing.
Ian Downie, MD of Sales for Wrightbus told CBW: “We’re delighted to announce that Go-Ahead’s London Camberwell garage will take the the first StreetAir. We’re currently awaiting for the IVA (Individual Vehicle Approval) date. The StreetAir on our stand is going to Arriva Liverpool on a three-month trial on a variety of routes, and will then move to Arriva London.”
Arriva North West has already secured an order for 72 electric and gas vehicles (CBW issue 1263) with help from the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV). They are expected to be delivered by mid-2017 and will be based at Arriva’s Green Lane bus depot in Liverpool.
CBW can confirm that the Yutong electric bus will be trialled on route 27, that serves Sheil Road Circular to Liverpool, as a demo for three months in the new year. Once the demo is over feedback will be offered in anticipation for the 12 BYD electric buses due to arrive as part of the OLEV funding.
