Published: July 19, 2021

The agreement, signed with the National Transport Authority of Ireland, calls for an initial order for 45 buses, with deliveries set to begin in 2022.

Alexander Pelagi

The National Transport Authority (NTA) and companies Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) and BYD signed an agreement on Monday, July 19, 2021, to eliminate up to 200 battery-powered electric buses.

The contract stipulates an initial order for 45 buses starting delivery from 2022.

ADL is a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. (NFI), a leading independent global bus manufacturer. BYD is a global leader in batteries, power management and electric mobility.

The contract is valid for up to five years, and includes delivery of single-battery electric buses. The first 45 vehicles are expected to serve the Athlon and Dublin metropolitan areas, located in the center of the island.

This is the first contract of the BYD ADL partnership in Ireland and is the largest zero-emission bus order in the country to date.

The vehicle is a double-door variant of the NVIRO 200 EV for NTA, with 27 seats, a capacity of more than 75 passengers and a length of 12 meters.

Sewing model BYD ADL Enviro200EV for NTA

The interior of the bus is adjusted to increase passenger flow and accessibility, and includes space for wheelchairs and space dedicated to accommodating at least one pram.

All NTA buses will be manufactured at ADL’s UK factories, with proven BYD electric technology, ADL’s bodywork and passenger – focused interiors.

It offers less internal and external noise compared to the diesel-only bus. This will not only provide clean air and noise pollution in the areas where the buses operate, but also provide a peaceful journey for the passengers.

The agreement is part of the Irish Government ‘s commitment to reduce carbon emissions from transportation, as stated in the Climate Action Plan 2019 and the Government 2020 Program. The latter undergoes considerable decarbonization of the ship. Public transport in Arland and all new city buses must be hybrid electric or electric.

BYD ADL Partnership was selected as the successful bidder following a comprehensive and rigorous procurement process.

100% Electric BYD ADL Enviro200EV Bus Made in the UK for NTA

Deposits

After signing the agreement, NTA CEO Ann Abraham said:

“The contract signed for the supply of these electric buses highlights NTA’s commitment to a sustainable and affordable transportation network. Over the next five years, we plan a large increase in the number of low- and / or zero-emission city buses operating on the Transport for Ireland (TFI) network across the country. The ship ordered today represents the best combination of state-of-the-art electrical technology, proven reliability, accessibility and comfort of convenience for all passengers using TFI’s bus services. I would like to work with our bus operator partners and ADL to ensure that the first of these buses is delivered and ready to operate by 2022.”.

Paul Davies, President and Managing Director of ADL, said, “The new contract for 200 buses with zero emission.This is further proof of our customer focus, which exemplifies our ability to adjust vehicle specifications to suit operational requirements. With our current contract for 600 Enviro 400 Year Zero-Emission plug-in hybrid buses, we are proud to play a key role in the Zero-Emission Mobility Roll-in in Ireland.”.

Finally, the agreement with NTA Ireland was commented by BYD UK Managing Director Frank Thorpe.It is the most important commitment of electromobility we have seen in Europe”. Thorpe completed: “BYD ADL participation is preferred by local authorities and public transport operators. This agreement promises to bring a sustainable future to public transport in Ireland, and we are pleased to join NTA”.

Alexander Pelegi, a journalist specializing in transportation

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