Third electric bus trial begins in Guernsey

Tuesday, 9 April 2024 11:15

CT Plus will be testing an electric bus on Guernsey's roads, the third type to be brought over.

The Enviro100EV comes from the UK manufacturer, Alexander Dennis.

It is a fully electric vehicle that can carry up to 45 passengers, with seating for 25. There is one wheelchair space which can be accessed via a manual ramp at the front.

For the next couple of days, from 9 April, CT Plus and Alexander Dennis will see how the bus handles the island's bus routes and consumes energy.

The Enviro100EV is supposed to be able to complete 285 miles on a single charge.

CT Plus has previously said the average bus runs for 100 miles a day.

"The previous vehicles we trialled had great manoeuvrability however with its door positioned in front of the front wheels the Enviro100EV should be far better to manoeuvre.

The bus has an impressive capacity for its small size, some three more can be accommodated on the Enviro100EV than can be taken on the current buses being used."

Shaun Millar, from Alexander Dennis says Guernsey is one of the first places to trial this model.

"We expect our “big small bus” will perform well in Guernsey as its size and manoeuvrability make it ideal for the Island’s roads while offering passengers the comfort of a much larger vehicle.

This is one of the first on-road trials of the Enviro100EV and we are really looking forward to analysing the results together with CT Plus."

Electric buses were introduced to Jersey's fleet in December 2023.