AN ELECTRIC bus received the thumbs-up from passengers after taking to the roads of Warwickshire for the first time.
Henley-based operator Johnsons received the demonstrator full electric bus from the UK distributor for the Chinese manufacturer Yutong and put the vehicle through its paces with potential customers.
Over three days would-be contractors for the buses, including National Grid, NFU Mutual and Warwickshire County Council, had the opportunity to travel on the vehicle and find out about the many advantages electric buses have offer over conventional diesel-powered buses.
Johnsons’ commercial director John Johnson said: “Passengers and drivers alike immediately recognised the benefits an electric vehicle offers.
“A much quieter and smoother ride, improved driver experience and zero gas and particulate emissions to the local environment – even the heating and air conditioning is powered from the bus battery. Based on the trial, it appears the cost of electricity to operate the bus is less than a quarter of the equivalent diesel cost.”
There are now more than 100,000 similar zero emission buses in operation in China and around the world, and have been for over ten years.
Johnsons’ operation director Peter Johnson said: “For three years now, we’ve invested heavily in the latest cleanest Euro 6 diesel engines for our coach and bus fleet, but zero emission electric vehicles has to be the future.
“And bus and coach travel, with both Euro 6 and EV can help provide solutions to the congestion and air quality issues that we all face.”
Sara Habib, head of workplace services at Warwick-based National Grid, agreed sustainable electric travel was the future.
She said: “Our colleagues at National Grid were very positive about the electric bus and their journey.
“The trial reflects our commitment to encouraging and supporting colleagues to reduce their impact on the environment, this includes reducing CO2 emissions and finding more sustainable ways of travelling to work to help stem climate change and create a cleaner, greener Britain.”