The exceptional charging efficiency has been achieved by careful system integration and optimisation, with the manufacturer’s engineers working in close partnership with driveline supplier Voith Turbo, battery system provider Impact Clean Power Technology and HVAC specialists Grayson Thermal Systems.
The 97% grid-to-wheel efficiency is the best recorded in UK zero-emission bus certification to date.
It further enhances the overall efficiency of Alexander Dennis’s next-generation electric buses, which were earlier certified with a benchmark 0.67kWh/km driveline energy consumption over the UK Bus Cycle for the Enviro400EV, and 0.54kWh/km for the Enviro100EV.
The combined charging and driveline efficiencies ensure that the manufacturer’s next-generation electric buses require significantly less energy than other electric buses for charging, bringing down their operating costs.
The independent data from Zemo Partnership testing shows that the Enviro400EV can reduce energy cost by at least 14% compared to any other certified electric double decker of similar battery size under UK Bus Cycle testing conditions.
Total cost of ownership is further reduced by the substantially longer battery life of Alexander Dennis’s next-generation electric buses, enabled by class-leading warrantable energy throughput of up to 1.6GWh. As real world-conditions may differ from UK Bus Cycle testing, Alexander Dennis provides customers with comprehensive route modelling to anticipate performance on their actual routes.
Alexander Dennis Group Engineering Director, Chris Gall, said: “We have focused on delivering benefits for our customers throughout the development of our next-generation electric buses. We’re delighted to announce a stunning 97% grid-to-wheel efficiency, certified by the Zemo Partnership’s zero-emission bus testing. This will minimise energy requirements and slash costs for customers by delivering sustained savings throughout their buses’ long operational lives. “This is once again testament to the fantastic expertise of our engineering team and the collaborative working culture we have fostered with our key partners Voith Turbo, Impact Clean Power Technology and Grayson Thermal Systems.”
