Published on: August 24, 2024
The operation, which is still in the testing phase, began on Wednesday, August 14, and is being carried out by the Yutong GTe14; The round trip is almost 200 km
Alexandre Peleki
Travel technology company FlixBus is of German origin. Announcing the launch of a 100% electric long distance bus service between Cambridge and London in the UK.
The project is in partnership with road transport operator Whipped Bus and Zenobē, which provides complete solutions for Air Force electrification, including charging infrastructure, battery replacement and software.
On Wednesday 14 August 2024, the FlixBus line began service between Cambridge City Centre, Trumpington Park and Ride, London Finchley Road and Victoria Coach Station.
The operational model is the Yutong GTE14, which covers a nearly 200km round-trip track.
The functionality will be tested for six weeks on the FlixBus long-distance bus network and mirrors the first electric bus service pilot in England and Wales announced by the German brand earlier this year.
According to Flix.Bus, the electric bus by Pelican Yutong will save 167 kg of carbon emissions per day, which corresponds to two round trips.
Ticket prices follow the FlixBus model and cost just £2.99 (R$21.70).
Whippet, the main electric bus operator in Cambridge, provides the Cambridge Universal College Bus service and city bus routes.
For Jonathan Ziebart, UK managing director of Whippet's parent company Ascendal, the company is strengthening its position 12 months after the launch of the UK's first privately funded electric bus network. “Whippet is excited to strengthen our position as a pioneer in the adoption of zero-emission bus technology by introducing Cambridge's first battery-electric bus,” says Geibhardt.
Zenobē co-founder Steven Meersman brings its extensive experience in charging infrastructure, software and telematics to the eBus trial with FlixBus and Whippet.
With more than 1,200 electric buses in use worldwide, Mearsman said he looks forward to analyzing vehicle charging profile data and exploring how to support more buses serving long-distance routes in the UK and around the world.
The Yutong GTe14 includes a bathroom, USB charging points and free Wi-Fi, standard on FlixBus services, as well as full accessibility for passengers traveling in wheelchairs.
The vehicle, equipped with a 563 kWh battery, will be charged at Whippet's Swavesey depot using infrastructure provided by Zenobē.
Zenobē will install its telematics on the bus to capture data about vehicle and on-board battery performance. Zenobē focuses on implementing an optimal charging strategy that provides support with the energy needed to charge an electric vehicle.
FlixBus currently has 70 destinations across its UK network and daily services to mainland Europe. It has received a 4.2 out of 5 star rating in the Network Trust pilot, the highest among scheduled bus services in the country.
The company will be the first to bring an electric bus service to England and Wales in March 2024.
Flix operates in 44 countries on four continents, has already launched electric vehicles in several markets, and aims to achieve carbon neutrality across Europe by 2040.
“Flix secures sustainable travel And we're on a missTo enable the changeMeasures to reduce emissionsn carbon ionsNot just in the UK, but globally through partnerships like this“FlixBus UK Managing Director Andreas Schorling concludes.
Alexandre Peleki is a journalist specializing in transport
