The new fleet of 36 Yutong E12 12m full electric buses was unveiled at a launch event in Cardiff city centre on Friday, January 14.
The arrival in Cardiff of the first of 36 Yutong E12 12m full electric buses marks a significant phase in the ambitious project behind the step-change in the Capital’s bus network.
Zenobē, EV fleet and battery storage specialist, has financed and implemented the charging infrastructure at the Cardiff Bus Sloper Road depot and driver training and the commissioning of the depot infrastructure is taking place.
Paul Dyer, Managing Director at Cardiff Bus said, “We have been all about our city for nearly 120 years, and we are rightly proud of the part we play in city life. Cardiff Bus is the bus network in Cardiff, part of the city’s fabric, and this game changing development further underscores this. We’re proud to play our part in improving the air quality in the city.”
Continuing, Paul added “I’d like to thank those involved in the project thus far, and now welcome our drivers, engineers and all support staff into the key part they will play getting these game-changing buses onto the streets of our fine city.
This investment wasn’t possible without the support of wider stakeholders and, significantly, our Shareholder, Cardiff Council. We look forward to continuing to work with our Shareholder to make buses the way of moving around our city - an objective we both share and are working hard to achieve.”
In addition to their environmental and green credentials, the electric buses will also provide a comfortable and quiet ride for customers. The buses are kitted out with next stop audio and visual announcements and USB ports to make journeys easier for customers.
The 36 new buses now account for 24% of Cardiff Bus' fleet of vehicles.
The buses are set to save 650,000 tonnes of CO2 over the lifetime of their operation, which is expected to be 12 to 15 years.
The first batch of buses have gone out to Llanrumney and St Mellons. By the end of January Cardiff Bus expects to have the 36 buses out to service three routes across the city.
The investment is a collaboration between Cardiff Bus and shareholder Cardiff council after a successful bid for funding from the Department for Transport's ultra-low emissions bus scheme.
The Yutong E12 has been operating in Europe for over five years and in the UK since 2017. It shares the same driveline as all other Yutong electric buses sold in the UK as well as a further 100,000 Yutong electric buses worldwide.
It is available in either single or twin door configurations and is ideal for provincial bus operators or car park operators. It can be fitted with extensive luggage racking for airport use.
Fitted with 422kWh batteries, the vehicles are capable of daily operational range of over 186 miles on a single charge subject to their specific operational conditions.
The driver and passenger experience is second to none, with separate air-conditioning for the driver and the passenger saloon. With no engine vibration or noise, the saloon is further enhanced with LED lighting and separate USB charging points.
