(31 Oct 2017, 9:36 am)RBZ 5459 UK Bus is generally phasing out the introduction of big brand liveries that go against the grain - e.g. the Gas bus livery, Cumbria's Lakes Connection 555 or Norfolk's CoastHopper. Stagecoach's new UK Bus Commercial man is for strengthening corporate identity rather than watering it down under liveries, the new Arriva liveries are a good example of keeping a strong corporate image and a way route branding is to be done. Portsmouth's recent MMCs are a good example; https://goo.gl/iRDZRr. Similarly, Preston's pending Scania MMCs (15295-15305) which were pencilled in to be bespoke inside and out like the Lakes Connection 555, are to be now in corporate swoops with branding on the corporate livery. They're interiors are still bespoke though away from the corporate standard.
The 100 and X34 I would say are passable as its branding built on the corporate brand, with the Dots/Zones a little bit more at odds, with the X24 probably being a brand they wouldn't approve again. SCNE have generally been reeling in branding the past few years, with corporate swoops with no branding doing the job unless it's of a huge commercial benefit - which is what's happening with batches now due for repaint, with no great rush to get them through the paint shop.
I do feel that the Gas buses do require some sort of Gas bus technology promotion on them though. When they were first introduced into Sunderland there was big marketing and media push promoting them, like the Public Open Day and the ongoing promotion of them on the UK Bus website. They are the only vehicles of their type in the UK Bus fleet too, with locals knowing them as the 'Gas buses', so I think it is a bit of a let down commercially. Something across the 'Gas pods' or even a small sticker like the Wi-Fi ones on the destination glass or rear would have been a welcoming sight.
I am racking my brains to see what Reading do with theirs.
Without checking, I can't remember if they use any mention of the fuel type within the livery.
'Illegitimis non carborundum'
