Go North East (GNE) has launched Voltra, a new fleet of nine battery-electric buses. It is believed to be the first fully electric bus fleet in the North East of England.
The nine Yutong E10 single-deck buses, supplied by Pelican Bus and Coach, will operate from the company’s Gateshead depot. They will work the 53 and 54 services between Gateshead, Saltwell Park and Newcastle.
The E10 uses water-cooled batteries rated at 422Kw/h with a daily claimed operation range over 300km on a single charge. Vehicles are charged overnight at the Gateshead site in under four hours.
The decision to go electric is part of GNE’s aspirations to improve local air quality. The buses represent a £3.7m joint investment by Go North East and the Ultra-Low Emission Bus Fund, following a bid supported by the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive (trading as Nexus) and Gateshead Council.
The Yutongs are based in a new electric bus ‘micro depot’ equipped with Yutong Charging units and Zenobe power management. Up to 30 vehicles can be accommodated in the new site, allowing for future expansion. Electricity is reportedly sourced by solar, wind and hydroelectric power.
Onboard, the buses are equipped with seating from Esteban, with a bespoke Camira moquette sourced from its sustainable Vita range. Passengers benefit from free wi-fi, wireless and USB charging with Alfatronix seatback phone holders. A McKenna Brothers Mobitic next-stop audio-visual announcement system is fitted, and a trial of Ticketer’s ‘tap-on, tap-off’ system marks another first for the North East.
Finishing the futuristic and green-look of the vehicles is a digitally printed grass effect floor from Altro’s forthcoming Metris range.
“This is the dawn of a new era for bus travel here in the North East,” GNE Managing Director Martijn Gilbert says. “We believe these are the very best local buses in the UK, and probably beyond, with a game-changing bus of the future experience for customers – not just with zero-emission buses, but a range of pioneering technologies and customer features to revolutionise bus travel.
“Sustainability is key and our Voltra buses run on electricity sourced with green credentials. But Voltra is far more than just an electric bus fleet – we’ve looked at every detail, working with Pelican Yutong and other suppliers, to maximise the use of technology and innovation to provide a new standard in bus travel including customer comfort, information and ticketing.
“We hope that by introducing these fully-electric buses we can help flip the switch on people’s behaviour and see more people across our region leave the car behind to help reduce congestion on our roads and improve air quality for us all.
“Clean, affordable and sustainable next generation travel has arrived.”
Adds Richard Crump, Managing Director of Pelican Bus and Coach: “Both Pelican and Yutong where delighted to have been able to work with the team at GNE to help develop its unique and innovative concept for 21st century bus travel in the North East. We are very proud that Yutong electric buses have been chosen for such an important service”.
According to Head of Yutong Bus UK Ian Downie, the project was three years in the making. “The exacting standards of GNE honed the vehicles’ specification, and we are absolutely delighted with the finished product,” he says. “The vehicles will make a real, lasting improvement to the air quality in the North East and also set a new standard in passengers experience.”
