ADL to showcase an electric double-decker bus at COP26 in Glasgow

Alexander Dennis Limited is showcasing one of its zero-emission double-deck buses at the COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland. The bus, a BYD ADL Enviro400EV double decker that has been lent by bus operator National Express from its West Midlands fleet, is located inside the security-controlled Blue Zone, where negotiations between world leaders take place. 

David Bradford, Managing Director of National Express West Midlands, said: “We bought our last ever diesel bus in 2019, and by 2030, our entire 1,600 West Midlands fleet will be zero-emission“.

ADL was invited by the UK Government as organisers of COP26 to present its solutions for sustainable transport to negotiators and global leaders in the Blue Zone at COP26. Over 1,000 battery-electric buses built in Britain by ADL in partnership with BYD are already on the road or on order in the United Kingdom, and second-generation hydrogen buses will follow next year. 

ADL’s zero emission buses for the United Kingdom are built in Britain. Internationally, ADL operates a network of local assembly facilities and benefits from experience shared with sister companies within NFI. 

National Express West Midlands and energy transition

Paul Davies, ADL President & Managing Director, said: “Electric and hydrogen buses have critically important roles to play on the road to net zero. With our zero-emission buses operating not only across the UK but around the world, it is a great honour for Alexander Dennis to have been invited by the UK Government to present our zero-emission bus in the Blue Zone at COP26, reminding negotiators and world leaders that without investment in clean public transport, climate goals cannot be achieved.” 

“We are extremely grateful to our colleagues at National Express West Midlands for making one of their buses available for this prestigious event,” Davies continued. “We have had a longstanding partnership with them, and we continue to work collaboratively to ensure that we can support their fleet strategies as they continue their own transition to zero emissions.” 

David Bradford, Managing Director of National Express West Midlands, said: “National Express West Midlands is proud to be the UK’s greenest transport company. We bought our last ever diesel bus in 2019, and by 2030, our entire 1,600 West Midlands fleet will be zero-emission. Our 29 ADL fully electric double decker buses have been carrying happy customers around Birmingham, Solihull and Coventry for over a year now. They’ve already saved over 1,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide going out into the atmosphere. It’s very exciting that one of those buses will be ‘in the room’ at COP26 where the decisions will be made that affect all of our futures.”