Next-gen Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV gets London debut on SL6

Alexander Dennis has announced it has delivered 12 new Enviro400EV to Arriva London for use on Transport for London’s (TfL) SL6 route.

The double-decker buses, which are part of a larger order of 30, are the first examples of the manufacturer’s latest-generation battery-electrics to enter service in London.

The new Enviro400EV will travel between West Croydon and Russell Square on the limited-stop, peak-hours service, of which Arriva London took over operation in March.

Features which form part of TfL’s latest Bus Safety Standard include blind spot monitoring, intelligent speed assistance and revised front geometry.

The 472kWh batteries work to deliver an energy consumption of 0.67kWh/km, as certified by Zemo Partnership. This is complemented by the zero-emission HVAC system supplied by Grayson Thermal Systems.

The other 18 Enviro400EV will shortly be delivered for use on TfL route 196, says Alexander Dennis.

The Enviro400EV are 10.5m-long to meet TfL specification compared to the 11.1m for the provincial model, which debuted with Stagecoach in Oxfordshire in March 2024. It thus has 62 seats – seven fewer than elsewhere. The London versions have a wheelchair user bay accessed via the centre door.

Neil Gladstone, Alexander Dennis National Account Manager, says: “This delivery of our first TfL-specification Enviro400EV is a milestone in the roll-out of our next generation of electric buses and brings a new bus for London to the streets of the capital.

“Initial operation has been trouble-free and monitoring through our comprehensive AD Connect telematics shows that the buses are performing as expected, with real-world efficiency in line with the route analysis calculations we made earlier.

“This gives us great confidence that these next-generation Enviro400EV will enjoy long operating lives underpinned by their 14-year, one million km warranty.”

Marcos Hart, Managing Director London at Arriva UK Bus, adds: “We’re delighted to have placed this exciting order with the team at Alexander Dennis and to be the first operator to bring these state-of-the-art buses to London.

“This latest milestone builds on the millions of pounds we have already invested in creating the clean, electrified and high performing fleet that our customers deserve – helping to encourage even more people to travel sustainably on public transport.”