Nottingham City Transport’s first electric double-decker buses have arrived ahead of their introduction on Lilac Line 27 to Carlton later this year.
The six Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliner Gen 2.0 buses will be shown to passengers at a public launch event at Sneinton Market Square on Wednesday 14 October, from 10am to 3pm.
Visitors will be able to board the buses, explore their features and find out more about their introduction.
The vehicles have full air conditioning, USB charging points and two wheelchair bays. They are NCT’s first double-deckers to offer full air conditioning.
NCT said it worked with flooring supplier Altro and seating fabric manufacturer Camira Fabrics on an interior designed to support neurodivergent passengers. This includes a lighter, wood-effect floor that contrasts with the hand poles and seating.
The arrival follows the completion of NCT’s electric single-decker rollout, with all 62 vehicles now in service across Nottingham.
The Mayor of the East Midlands and East Midlands Combined County Authority have contributed £4.5 million towards the electric double-decker investment.
Mayor Claire Ward said: “I’m committed to improving the experience of public transport, which is why I’m investing £4.5 million in helping bring cleaner buses to Nottingham. The new electric double-decker buses will give passengers a quieter, smoother, and more comfortable journey, with air conditioning, charging ports, and improved accessibility. These are the kind of everyday improvements that add up when you use public transport, so they are important to get right. By making buses cleaner, more comfortable, and more accessible, the bus will be a more attractive choice.”
The buses have a 442kWh electric powertrain, fast-charging capability and a stated range of up to 275 miles.
Charging infrastructure has been completed by energy partner VEV at NCT’s Parliament Street Garage, where the vehicles will be based and charged overnight.
Further electric double-deckers are due before Christmas. NCT said these would bring its electric fleet to 93 vehicles, representing around a third of its buses.
David Astill, NCT Managing Director, said: “NCT is proud to launch our latest electric buses, funded in partnership with the East Midlands Combined Authority and Mayor Claire Ward. They represent a further step change in the specification of our modern fleet of buses, including full air-conditioning which is a first for our double-deck vehicles. I am confident our customers will love the improvements and encourage them to pop down to Sneinton Market Place to get an early glimpse before they go into service on Carlton Road.”
The interiors also use materials intended to reduce their environmental impact. Camira’s seat fabric is made from marine plastic waste, with each metre containing up to 35 plastic bottles.
Altro supplied the flooring in self-adhesive, pre-cut kits rather than traditional rolls. The company estimates this saved around 226kg of embodied carbon dioxide across the assembly of the six vehicles.
Christian Reynolds, Managing Director at Wrightbus, said: “As we celebrate our 80th anniversary, we’re proud our buses are continuing to play such an important role in the future of public transport across the UK.
“This is an important milestone in Nottingham’s transition to zero-emission public transport, and we look forward to seeing these buses enter service and become a familiar sight on the city’s roads. They will help NCT deliver cleaner and more comfortable journeys for passengers while supporting the city’s wider ambitions for a more sustainable transport network.”
Electric double-deckers previously served NCT’s Carlton Road route as trolleybuses, which operated for 33 years until 1965.
