New zero-emission bus to be trialled on the island of Jersey

Credit: LibertyBus

LibertyBus – a bus operator on the island of Jersey, and part of the Tower Transit Group – has announced that it will be trialling a new, state-of-the-art zero-emission bus from 23 to 25 January 2023, in partnership with the Government of Jersey and Pelican Engineering.

The bus arrived on the morning of 23 January 2023 and commenced out of service trials across all routes. LibertyBus will be analysing data on energy consumption, charging requirements and manoeuvrability on the island’s bus routes.

The bus is the Yutong E9 and is a fully zero-emission electric bus. With a passenger capacity of up to 62 passengers (with 23 seats), the bus is wheelchair accessible and fitted with electric air conditioning, ensuring that passengers can ride in comfort throughout the year.

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The vehicle is electrically driven, using a single drive motor which is powered by CATL 255 kWh batteries. This means that the vehicle can complete over 195 miles on a single charge. The batteries have industry-leading battery safety fitted as standard. Charging is completed using DC CCS2 charge guns, allowing compatibility with other electric vehicles – such as BMW I 8. The vehicle can be fully charged within two hours.

Commenting on the trial, Kevin Hart, Director for LibertyBus, said “We are excited about trialling the electric bus on the island. The Yutong E9 is a great little bus, and we can’t wait to share the results of the trial with the Government of Jersey. On [25 January 2023], between 09:30 and 12:00, the bus will be on show outside Liberation Station and we invite the community of Jersey to get on board and take a look  at the zero-emission bus.”