Stagecoach Bluebird welcomes 1000th BYD ADL electric bus to Aberdeen

• Stagecoach’s new electric bus fleet for Aberdeen includes the 1000^th electric bus built by British manufacturer ADL in partnership with BYD
• Minister for Just Transition, Employment and Fair Work, Richard Lochhead joined the handover during Scottish Bus Week
• New order for another 13 electric double deckers for Aberdeen confirmed

Local bus operator Stagecoach Bluebird has officially welcomed the 1000^th electric bus built by the market-leading partnership between Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) and BYD to its Aberdeen fleet.

The BYD ADL Enviro400EV double decker was part-funded by the Scottish Government and handed over during Scottish Bus Week in the presence of the Scottish Government’s Minister for Just Transition, Employment and Fair Work.

Working in partnership since 2015, ADL is a subsidiary of leading independent global bus manufacturer NFI Group Inc. (NFI), and BYD is a global leader in batteries, energy management and electric mobility.

Sales of the partnership’s British-built electric buses have accelerated rapidly as the transition to zero-emission mobility gathers pace in the United Kingdom. While it took five years to reach the 500^th BYD ADL electric bus, the partnership has now delivered its 1000^th vehicle just one year later.

This bus is the last of a fleet of 22 electric buses into which Stagecoach invested £11.2 million with £4 million support from the Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme.

They are used on service 727 connecting the city centre to P&J Live and Aberdeen Airport as well as service 59 which connects Balnagask with the city centre, ARI and Northfield.

Stagecoach can now confirm a new order for an additional 13 electric buses of the same type for Aberdeen following the award of funding through the Scottish Government’s follow-on scheme, the Zero-Emission Bus Challenge Fund.

They are part of wider nationwide investment in sustainable transport by Stagecoach, which has invested over £1 billion on new low, ultra-low and zero-emission buses in the last decade.

At an event during the inaugural Scottish Bus Week, Minister for Just Transition, Employment and Fair Work, Richard Lochhead MSP, joined ADL’s National Account Manager Marie Connell in handing over the anniversary bus to Stagecoach Bluebird Managing Director, Peter Knight, before touring the newly installed EV charging hub at Stagecoach’s Aberdeen Tullos Depot.

Minister for Just Transition, Employment and Fair Work, Richard Lochhead said: “I’m really pleased to witness the 1000th electric bus manufactured by ADL – a great example of successful collaboration between Scottish operators and manufacturers, supported by Scottish Government funding.

“Through the Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Scheme we’ve supported the introduction of 22 new electric buses here in Aberdeen for Stagecoach Bluebird.

“Alongside free travel for under-22s and over half a billion pounds in long term funding for bus priority infrastructure, we’re putting buses at the heart of Scotland’s just transition to net-zero by helping people choose to travel more sustainably. We can only achieve that transition by working together.”

Peter Knight, Managing Director for Stagecoach Bluebird, said: “We are all really excited to be sharing BYD ADL's celebration of delivering its 1000^th fully electric bus. Introducing these new vehicles reflects the investment both we and Scottish Government are making thanks to the Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme and the funding made available to support the delivery of the new buses.

“There has never been a more important time to take action to address the climate emergency and play a part in helping Scotland deliver on its net zero ambitions whilst improving local air quality in Aberdeen.

“The introduction of these 22 new fully electric buses on our bus routes in Aberdeen reflect our commitment to creating a greener, smarter, safer and healthier country and at the same time will deliver major benefits for the region and our customers.”

Marie Connell, National Account Manager at ADL, said: “This milestone demonstrates the incredible pace at which the transition to zero-emission mobility is now happening thanks to bus companies’ drive for innovation and Government support.

“With 1000 electric buses now on the road, our customers benefit from the BYD ADL partnership’s unrivalled experience. Stagecoach’s new order for another 13 of these electric double deckers will further extend the benefits as passengers will enjoy a smooth and quiet ride and the people of Aberdeen will breathe cleaner air.”