Reading Buses fleet of electric double deck buses has entered service to the excitement of many.
At an impressive launch event at their Great Knollys Street depot in Reading on Thursday 5 February, the company unveiled their new Zero Emission Buses for the Reading Area – or ZEBRA for short – to local stakeholders. The event even featured a new mascot for the zero emission buses – Zippy the Zebra – who will be present at future events including the Reading Buses Open Day.
The fleet of 24 new buses will be used on two routes, the flagship purple 17 between Tilehurst, Central Reading and Wokingham Road, and busy claret 21 between Central Reading, the University of Reading and Lower Earley. Both routes run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
As is customary for Reading Buses, the fleet features a high interior specification and vibrant coloured branding, and some ‘generic’ buses designed to be able to be used on either route. These include one with a zebra design (Zero Emission Buses for the Reading Area), one in the Berkshire warming stripes designed by Ed Hawkins from Reading University to raise awareness of global warming, and one decked in gold to celebrate the company’s 125 year anniversary this year.
The buses replace the existing vehicles on a one-for-one basis as part of the company’s fleet replacement programme and can be recharged without any impact on the existing 24-hour operation on both of these routes.
The buses are zero-emission meaning a reduction in carbon emissions around the town. Reading Buses say that these vehicles will save around 1819 tonnes of CO2e* per year versus the diesel buses that they replace based on current grid electricity. The buses are also best-in-class with superior on-board features such as:
- full automatic air conditioning and heating – electrically provided using a heat pump
- audio and visual next stop information system including hearing loop
- USB-A and USB-C charging points at each seat
- seat-back phone holder with wireless charging
- comfy high back seats
- LED mood lighting
- lower deck rear tables and extra luggage space in place of rear-facing seats
- free WiFi
- second multi-use wheelchair and buggy bay
- glazed staircase and ‘sunroof’ for extra natural light
- additional tinted glazing – staircase, roof lights and front dome – to keep heat gain down
- coffee shop style flooring
- upper deck table / family area
- staircase CCTV screen displaying free seats upstairs in addition to interior and exterior cameras
- coat hooks
- Tap on tap off ticketing
There are also features for the driver and general safety:
- Camera mirrors for improved visibility
- Reversing sensors
- PA system
- Curved windscreen to reduce risk of injury in the event of an incident
Said Robert Williams, Reading Buses Chief Executive Officer; “I am beyond excited to be launching our first ever battery electric buses at Reading Buses. In addition to being zero emission, they bring a significant improvement in journey quality for our customers onboard. Alongside our 75 low-emission biomethane-powered buses, over 60% of our fleet will be low or zero emission – and the remaining diesel buses are all still extremely clean Euro-VI engined.”
Said Cllr John Ennis, Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport: “I am really looking forward to seeing these 24 brand new electric buses carrying passengers around Reading, and I cannot wait to travel on them myself.
“Not only will they provide passengers with a smooth, comfortable journey, they will be carrying thousands of people around the borough every day without emitting any harmful, polluting fumes.
“The Council has invested heavily in a host of initiatives to make public transport even more convenient, reliable and easier to use, and bringing this magnificent fleet of electric double deckers to Reading, with Reading Buses, will make taking the bus an even more attractive proposition.”
The investment in electric vehicles has been made possible following a successful bid by Reading Borough Council to the Department for Transport ZEBRA fund (Zero Emission Buses for Regional Areas) to cover 75% the additional costs of buying electric vehicles and the associated depot infrastructure. Reading Buses have invested the equivalent cost of 24 diesel vehicles, and expect the remaining 25% cost to be covered by reduced running costs over the lifetime of the vehicles. Robert confirmed that the current bio-methane fuelled purple 17 buses are staying with the company, and will be refurbished before moving onto other routes, namely berry 23/24 and sky blue 15/16; “This allows us to then dispose of some of our older stock for use elsewhere, and keep the fleet age down and the air cleaner.”
