Alexander Dennis announced that it is expanding its zero-emission bus portfolio with the addition of new electric bus products fully designed and integrated in-house.

Available for customer delivery from late 2023, a new small bus and a new electric double decker will complement the products of the BYD ADL partnership, which will continue to be sold and supported. 

The move brings Alexander Dennis’s range of battery electric buses in line with the company’s strategy of offering its own, integrated vehicles alongside buses built on selected partners’ chassis to ensure customers have the widest range of solutions available to meet their individual requirements.

Developed in house by one of the manufacturer’s industrial designers with input from students of Coventry University’s Automotive and Transport Design course, the design will highlight their zero emission credentials.

Buses for the UK and Ireland will be fully built in Britain. Details and technical specifications will be released over the coming months.

“Alexander Dennis continues to lead the transition to zero-emission mobility and this unparalleled investment in the latest zero-emission technology gives operators, transport authorities and councils the freedom to choose from an even wider range of buses,” said Paul Davies, president/managing director. “We have always been highly respected for our product innovation, and throughout this difficult period for our industry we have continued to challenge our engineering team to evolve our range. The result will be a brand new fully in-house designed, integrated electric double deck and small bus product giving our customers access to the latest zero-emission vehicle technology from a single, trusted source. Investments can be made safe in the knowledge that everything will continue to receive the first-class aftermarket support that we are renowned for.”

Internationally, the new platform will be tailored to the requirements of cities, transport authorities, and bus companies in each territory. The recently announced order for Enviro500EV electric double deckers in Hong Kong will be part of this new generation of zero emission buses.

The battery electric BYD ADL Enviro200EV and BYD ADL Enviro400EV products built in partnership with BYD will continue to be offered in the UK, Ireland, and New Zealand. Alexander Dennis’s second-generation hydrogen bus, the Enviro400FCEV, will also continue to form an important part of the company’s zero-emission bus range and will be delivered to launch customer Liverpool City Region later this year. Already fully designed and integrated by Alexander Dennis, it shares technology and driveline components with the upcoming new battery-electric models.