World's most efficient electric battery zero-emission double-decker bus visits Blackpool

The zero emission rapid-charge StreetDeck Electroliner - the first ever EV from bus builder Wrightbus and the fastest charging on the market - was launched by the firm last year.

Official tests recently revealed the bus to be the most energy-efficient of its kind on the market.

Blackpool Council was awarded £19.6m by the Department for Transport’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) fund earlier this year, which will see 115 zero emission buses come to the town in the next three to five years.

The ZEBRA fund was first announced by the Prime Minister in 2020 and helps local transport authorities outside London to introduce zero emission buses, as well as the infrastructure needed to support them.

Jane Cole, Managing Director at Blackpool Transport, said: “This is the first visible step forward in our plans to bring electric buses to Blackpool from 2023 onwards.

“Trialling the Streetdeck Electroliner on our network brings us closer to a zero-emission future for Blackpool Transport and the Fylde Coast and we’re really excited to hear what our customers think about the bus itself. The bus is operating on our promenade bus route and we’ll be testing its efficiency, range and operating capabilities during the week-long trial.

“An extensive customer engagement programme will take place ahead of introducing our first electric buses next year.”

The StreetDeck Electroliner is the a combination of range and efficiency, maximising power and offering class-leading recharge times.

Energy savings compared to the equivalent StreetDeck Ultroliner ultra-low diesel bus mean the StreetDeck Electroliner is £14,500 cheaper to run a year.

Utilising a french battery pack which delivers 454kw and a 200-mile range, the Electroliner can recharge in two hours 45 minutes and copes with all routes, whether urban or rural.

Nor has the bus compromised on layout or capacity, with batteries efficiently stored around the bus to ensure passenger capacity and comfort is maximised.

Wrightbus CEO, Buta Atwal, said: “We’re looking forward to bringing the world’s most efficient double deck EV bus to Blackpool to show everyone what it is capable of. Since the bus was launched last year, we’ve had significant interest from across the UK and beyond, but due to the various lockdowns and restrictions we’ve found ourselves living with, it has been difficult at times for our customers to get really hands-on with the bus.

“We haven’t weighed the bus down with a high battery volume just so we can say it’s got the most power or range; instead, we’ve created the most efficient vehicle by combining optimum power with a class-leading rapid charge, meaning our electric bus spends more time on the road than any other. We’re confident our customers will enjoy the experience.”

As part of the tour, the bus will also visit operators in Warrington, Oxford, Birmingham, Leicester, Nottingham, Bradfordand Manchester. The tour will also see the vehicle visit Scotland and Northern Ireland over the coming months, giving local authorities and bus operators the chance to see the bus in action.