Alexander Dennis will deliver the new buses in 2026. The contract follows the allocation of additional Department for Transport zero-emission bus funding in response to a joint bid by Reading Borough Council and Reading Buses. They will convert the operator’s yellow 26 route to electric operation.
The extra eight next-generation Enviro400EV will join 24 similar buses funded by the second round of the UK Government’s Zero-Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA 2) scheme, which are currently in build at the manufacturer’s UK factories and are expected are to start running on the popular purple 17 and claret 21 routes this August.
All 32 Enviro400EV for Reading Buses will be built to a high specification with comfortable high back seating, USB charging sockets, social seating areas, full air-conditioning, audio-visual next stop announcements and enhanced accessibility.
They will be powered by the heavy-duty Voith Electrical Drive System, with energy stored in high-performance 472kWh batteries supplied by Impact Clean Power Technology. The manufacturer’s engineers have integrated these core components as well as an advanced HVAC system from British specialists Grayson Thermal Systems to deliver a highly capable bus that has demonstrated class-leading energy efficiency in zero-emission bus testing over the UK Bus Cycle alongside 97% grid-to-wheel efficiency.
Robert Williams, Chief Executive Officer for Reading Buses, said: “We were delighted to gain the opportunity to extend our plans for Zero Emission Buses in the Reading Area, and look forward to the improvement in customer experience the new buses are expected to deliver to our network of brightly coloured 24/7 urban bus services.
“Our detailed specification includes café style flooring, high back seats with USB charging, social seating, no rattly items, a glazed staircase and rooflights, LED mood lighting, two wheelchair bays, and audio visual next stop information system.”
Mark Taylor, Regional Sales Manager for Alexander Dennis, added: “We’re delighted that another eight next-generation Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV will take the Reading Buses electric fleet to 32 buses by next year, delivering smoother journeys and cleaner air.
“This order is also good news for the wider British economy, with UK Government funding being reinvested in domestic manufacturing that will benefit local communities in places where Alexander Dennis operates as well as throughout our extensive supply chain.”
