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ADL E-BUSES FOR TRANSDEVS HOWICK & EASTERN

NEW ZEALAND bus operator Howick & Eastern, part of Transdev Australasia since late 2019, has ordered two ADL-BYD 12.6-metre e-buses with Kiwi Bus Builders bodies, ADL announced recently.

To be used on Auckland Transport (AT) services, the three-axle single-deck ADL-BYD Enviro200EV XLB buses are being built for the specific requirements of bus operation in New Zealand, allowing it to carry 78 passengers without requiring an overweight permit, ADL explains.

It uses the latest BYD iron-phosphate battery and driveline technology, with dual AC and DC plug charging adding operational flexibility, it adds.

New Zealand is preparing to fully transition its bus fleet to zero-emission vehicles by 2035 as part of a wider set of measures intended to help meet the country’s 2050 carbon neutral target.

Howick & Eastern by Transdev general manager Sheryll Otway said: “The future for zero-emission transport in New Zealand is exciting and Howick & Eastern by Transdev is proud to be an ongoing part of this incredible journey, with the commissioning of these buses.”

“None of this would be possible without the support, vision and investment of Auckland Transport.

“We are certainly looking forward to working together over the coming years as we work together on providing zero-emissions public transport to the people of Tāmaki Makaurau.”

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LOCAL JOBS

Transdev New Zealand managing director Greg Pollock said: “Howick & Eastern by Transdev opted to commission ADL to build our second and third electric buses because the company’s factory is in New Zealand. This was a logical decision for us to make, given Transdev’s commitment to New Zealand and to expanding our operations here, where we already operate metro rail and bus services in both Auckland and Wellington, as well as a transport on demand trial in Auckland,” he explained.

Kiwi Bus Builders managing director Richard Drummond said: “Howick & Eastern’s order underlines our plans to support up to 100 local jobs with the assembly of electric buses in partnership with ADL, as we scale up our production to meet demand from Auckland Transport and elsewhere in New Zealand as the transformation to a zero-emissions fleet gets under way.”

New Flyer Industries (NFI)-owned Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) general manager for NZ Tony Moore said: “We are delighted to extend our successful relationship with Howick & Eastern to clean electric buses, which have been tailored to the requirements of bus operation in this country. This would not have been possible without the close collaboration with Kiwi Bus Builders, as well as with the team at BYD Australia.”

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Photography: courtesy ADL + Howick & Eastern

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