Alexander Dennis Enviro300

Alexander Dennis Enviro300

A second generation Alexander Dennis Enviro300 in service with Arriva Manchester.

An Arriva North West second generation Enviro300 interior
Overview
Manufacturer Alexander Dennis
Production 2001–2015
Body and chassis
Doors 1 door (Front entry only)
Floor type Low floor
Chassis Alexander Dennis Enviro 300
MAN 18.240 (A69)
Volvo B7RLE
Scania K230UB
Powertrain
Engine Cummins ISBe (Enviro 300)
MAN (MAN 18.240)
Volvo D7E (Volvo B7RLE)
Scania DC9/OC9 (Scania K230UB)
Capacity 48–80
Power output 185 metric horsepower (182 hp)–250 metric horsepower (250 hp)
Transmission ZF Ecomat/Ecolife, Voith, Allison
Dimensions
Length 11.8 metres (39 ft)–12.8 metres (42 ft)
Width 2.545m
Curb weight 14.4 tonnes (32,000 lb)–18 tonnes (40,000 lb)
Chronology

The Alexander Dennis Enviro300 (previously known as the TransBus Enviro300) is a light-weight full size single-deck bus built by Alexander Dennis (previously by its predecessor TransBus International) in the UK between 2001 and 2015. The design was the first of the new Enviro range of buses from TransBus and also the first bus to be built as an integral bus by TransBus.

The Enviro300 was introduced in order to fill a gap in the manufacturer's product range. At the beginning the Cummins ISBe220 5.9 litre Euro III engine was provided as standard, but for Euro IV and V, the engine is the 6.7 litre ISBe with 225 hp for Euro IV and 225 or 250 hp for Euro V. There is a choice of 3 gearboxes: ZF Ecolife (originally 5HP502C, then 6HP504C), Allison T280R and Voith D854.5 (originally DIWA854.3E). The second generation Enviro300, with front end redesigned to match the Enviro200 and Enviro400, was launched in 2007.

Production of the Enviro300 ceased in 2015 with the introduction of a long-wheelbase Enviro200 MMC replacing the Enviro300. More than 1,000 were produced.[1]

First generation (2001–2008)

First generation Transbus Enviro300 with First Midland Red in September 2005
First generation Transbus Enviro300 rear with Travel Surrey in October 2008

The TransBus Enviro300 was launched in 2001 by TransBus International, becoming the first member of the Enviro range; with the collapse of TransBus in 2004, successors Alexander Dennis took over production and rebranded the Enviro300 as the Alexander Dennis Enviro300.

The bus was developed to compete with the European-built heavy-weight single-decker buses sold in the UK, the most notable being Volvo. Many full-size (12m or more) single-decker buses are primarily designed for use on the continent and to carry a large number of standing passengers which is commonplace on the continent, but the Enviro300 is designed solely for the UK market where large numbers of standing passengers are not often carried. TransBus therefore believed that operators could make significant fuel savings by operating light-weight buses and produced a vehicle which is claimed to be lighter than its continental rivals but offer more seating capacity.

The Enviro300 had not sold as well as the manufacturer had hoped, though sales were not helped by the collapse of TransBus International in 2004. The majority of the original style Enviro300s sold to FirstGroup are all operating within First Midland Red subsidiary, all but one are of 12m length. A small number of original style Enviro300 had been sold to Stagecoach Group and Cardiff Bus.

After few years since its launch, the chassis of the Enviro300 became available with East Lancs Esteem bodywork, with the first two for Courtney Coaches entered service in 2006. This is the first time the Enviro300 chassis being constructed with bodywork by another manufacturer.

Second generation (2007–2015)

Second generation Enviro300-bodied MAN 18.240 with Stagecoach in Swindon in October 2008
Second generation Enviro300-bodied MAN 18.240 with Stagecoach in Swindon in October 2008

In late 2007 Alexander Dennis introduced an all new second generation version of Enviro300 which featured styling cues similar to the Enviro200 and the Enviro400. The body is also available on MAN 18.240 and Volvo B7RLE chassis. The 2nd generation Enviro300 has been far more successful sales wise than its predecessor, including finding its way into some of Arriva and Stagecoach's operations, First has also purchased some new style vehicles for its other operating companies other than First Midland Red. For the Enviro300s with other chassis, Stagecoach placed the first order of 100 Enviro300-bodied MAN 18.240 as part of the 2007/8 order, 93 are standard 12m buses and the other 7 being 12.8m long, with the first one entered service in January 2008; further orders boosted the total number to over 350. In mid-2008 Ulsterbus ordered 45 Enviro300-bodied Volvo B7RLEs, which are the first to feature Volvo chassis since the introduction of this option, they are also built to a rural specification featuring unusual modifications such as narrower entrance doors, side wheelchair access door and 55 seatbelted seats in the form of 2+3 layout.

In January 2011, Stagecoach Group placed an order for 50 Enviro300s on the diesel-powered Scania K230UB chassis. These were followed by further 28 examples in 2012/13[2] and 28 in 2014/15.[3]

In April 2013 Reading Transport took delivery of 20 gas-powered Enviro300SG buses based again on a Scania K UB chassis.[4] These buses were jointly developed by Alexander Dennis and Scania, who have had a demonstrator on loan to other operators since March 2013.[5][6] Stagecoach also ordered 40 similar examples for their North East operations, and started enter service in 2014.

The Enviro300 Virtual Electric, Alexander Dennis' first fully electric bus, was launched in November 2014 at the European Bus Expo in Birmingham. Seating 41 to 47 passengers, and is powered using wireless at-stop charging, solar panels and in-depot charging. It is the largest electric bus in England, overtaking the Optare Versa EV for that title.

Production of the Enviro300 ceased in late 2015 with the introduction of a long-wheelbase variant of the new Enviro200 MMC. The final Enviro300s were delivered to Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire in December 2015.

See also

Competitors (chassis/complete bus):

Competitors (bodywork):

References

  1. ↑ http://buslistsontheweb.co.uk/
  2. ↑ http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=6491&categoryid=0 Stagecoach bus orders for 2012/13 financial year
  3. ↑ http://www.stagecoach.com/media/news-releases/2014/2014-03-03.aspx Stagecoach bus orders for 2014/15 financial year
  4. ↑ "The UK's first Scania-ADL gas-powered buses delivered to Reading Buses". Scania (Great Britain) Limited. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  5. ↑ "Scania-ADL gas-powered demonstrator nears completion". Scania (Great Britain) Limited. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  6. ↑ "Scania-ADL gas-powered demonstrator takes to the road". Scania (Great Britain) Limited. Retrieved 25 November 2013.

External links

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