Our new ‘Spotlight on’ Q&A series is a great way to find out more about the dealers and manufacturers bringing vehicles to Coach & Bus UK 2019. First up is Alexander Dennis Limited — Britain’s largest coach and bus builder and the world’s largest producer of double-decker buses.
Company name: Alexander Dennis Limited
Year founded: 2004
Headquarters: Larbert, Scotland
Main products: Single and double deck buses and coaches
Yearly output: 2,500 vehicles worldwide
Fact: The company history dates back to 1895 when John Dennis set up Universal Athletic Stores in Guildford High Street, selling bicycles and other sporting goods.
How important is Coach & Bus UK to you and the industry?
Coach & Bus UK is important for the UK bus and coach industry as it allows us to showcase the very latest technologies and innovations and to build upon our relationships with customers, partners and suppliers alike.
What are you most looking forward to about the show?
We are looking forward to the first exhibition of our double deck pure electric product, the Enviro400EV, and to demonstrating our ground-breaking autonomous vehicle (see gallery below).
Looking ahead, what’s the biggest opportunity for the coach & bus industry in the coming years?
The biggest opportunity for the bus and coach industry in the coming years will be the chance to put our competitive differences aside and work together to promote to a wider audience the benefits of bus and coach travel to society and the environment.
Can you give us an example of what your business is doing to be even more sustainable?
At ADL we are committed to being as sustainable as possible in all areas of our business – through our range of low and zero emission buses (the widest in the industry) to our manufacturing procedures, our environmental policies and even with our workforce, through training, our apprenticeship and graduate schemes and management/leadership development courses.
What’s your view / standpoint on zero-emission vehicles?
The electric bus industry is moving at a rapid pace and we are proud to be leading the charge with our partner BYD. However, the varying duty cycles and commercial pressures mean that other low emission options such as hybrid, electric range hybrid, biogas and hydrogen, which offer similar benefits, will continue to play a role. We anticipate that 50% of buses will be electric by 2030.
In your opinion, how can the industry continue to reduce its carbon footprint?
The industry can continue to reduce its carbon footprint by investing in product development, lobbying for government funding to enable operators to adopt alternative fuel technologies, promoting and raising awareness of the benefits of low/zero emission technology and through sustainable manufacturing techniques and procedures.
What new tech should coach / bus operators be looking to invest in?
We believe it’s important that the industry invests equally in technology that will lower emissions and benefit the environment, along with technology that will benefit passengers and encourage an increase in bus / coach patronage. We need to work together to try and raise the profile of the industry and dispel the negative perceptions of bus and coach travel.
Why is innovation so vital to the future of the industry?
If you don’t grow you die! We must continue to innovate to keep up with the rate at which technology is progressing as well as customer and environmental requirements. Traditionally the bus and coach industry has lagged behind other automotive industries and there is still uncertainly about some technological advancements, such as autonomous vehicles, but as confidence in these new technologies grows and the benefits become apparent attitudes will change.
What’s your current bestseller?
Our best-selling product in the UK is our single deck Enviro200 bus, which is available in lengths of 8.9m to 12m with multiple high specification interior finishes and on a variety of different drivetrains. The Enviro200 is highly manoeuvrable, lightweight and delivers outstanding whole-life costs, features which are shared by Britain’s favourite double deck bus, our Enviro400.
What vehicles will you be promoting at the show?
At Coach & Bus UK we will be showcasing our Enviro200 in a well-known customer livery and our versatile Plaxton Panorama double deck coach indoors on our stand. Also on show will be our highly adaptable Panther coach in Hall 19 and our latest technology innovations will be present outside: the zero-emission double deck Enviro400EV and the autonomous Enviro200.
- Information supplied by Caroline Szeremeta, ADL’s group marketing manager.