So is the issue the vehicles or lack of available infrastructure (charging facilities) whilst they are on route (a similar issue to electric cars in some respects)?
Is there actually any electric buses on the market that could theoretically meet the range required for the 21?
Electric Buses/new orders
Electric Buses/new orders
RE: Electric Buses/new orders
(09 Feb 2026, 10:43 pm)Storx wrote Sunderland and Slatyford have had a full Diesel operation in the evenings for weeks now.
Tbf though, that's more to do with the chargers rather than the buses themselves. At Sunderland, whoever put them in mucked up (hence the thermal incidents) and we're waiting for someone to come and completely redo them. It also depends on the running board - I had an EV all night on Saturday for example. Some could go back out on evening boards but I think they're just playing safe.
Believe they're being trickle charged at Slatyford as the chargers are non-existent at the minute? Hopefully a Slatyford drivercan correct me.
RE: Electric Buses/new orders
(Yesterday, 11:45 am)Kuyoyo wrote Because Stockton, like Sunderland and many other Stagecoach operations with electric vehicles, have running boards designed around the battery life. Apart from a few exceptions, the majority of Stockton's late evening runs are on boards which drop back to the depot around 5pm (some exceptions do apply - one board on a Saturday goes back to the depot at quarter past 1, goes on charge then goes back out about quarter past 6 to do East Cleveland lates). Heck, go have a look at Chesterfield's blocking on Bus Times - and see how many times early afternoon X17 boards swap onto the slower Sheffield-Chesterfield routes (43 44 or 50) while buses on those boards (either 43 or 44) go onto X17s (last summer, there was a period mid-afternoon in Sheffield where an X17 arrived in from Chesterfield and worked onto a 50, with the arrival off the 50A going onto the now-withdrawn 42 to Lowedges and the 43 which arrived in from Chesterfield heading back that way as an X17).
Yeah absolutely no arguments, I just meant on the sense that doing a full days work is pretty much impossible and when you've route branded them, the opportunities for interworking starts to become a problem. Aberdeen does what Chesterfield does aswell, with the 727 to Stonehaven. It's a clever little way of making it work, to be fair to them and credit where it's due. Obviously not an option for everyone though as not everyone has local work and interurban work together.
I'm not sure what the answer is for the Angel though, currently, and it doesn't help the depot is miles away either. If only there was a depot which was at the end of the route where they could quickly pop in for a charge, or swap out at periods during the day...
(Yesterday, 12:43 pm)F114TML wrote Tbf though, that's more to do with the chargers rather than the buses themselves. At Sunderland, whoever put them in mucked up (hence the thermal incidents) and we're waiting for someone to come and completely redo them. It also depends on the running board - I had an EV all night on Saturday for example. Some could go back out on evening boards but I think they're just playing safe.
Believe they're being trickle charged at Slatyford as the chargers are non-existent at the minute? Hopefully a Slatyford drivercan correct me.
Aye that's fair like.
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Btw speaking of electric buses, does anyone know what range they actually get, in real life, not the manufacturer range? Looking at boards from multiple operators, it seems to be round the 200 mile mark at the top end before things become a problem?
RE: Electric Buses/new orders
(Yesterday, 12:39 pm)morritt89 wrote So is the issue the vehicles or lack of available infrastructure (charging facilities) whilst they are on route (a similar issue to electric cars in some respects)?
Is there actually any electric buses on the market that could theoretically meet the range required for the 21?
For the first bit, I'd say both.
You can have the best electric vehicle in the world, but if it doesn't have the mileage it's diesel equivalent has, then you can have all the charging infrastructure in the world - it still isn't going to sort out the current running boards or route demands.
For the second bit.
Theres absolutely no way I'd have the brass neck to go cap in hand to the government and make a business case for a vehicle purchase, knowing the vehicle chosen isn't suitable.
'Illegitimis non carborundum'
RE: Electric Buses/new orders
Ultimately I think we can all agree that the Cold Weather for the time of year is having an impact and also the lack of Ultra-Fast Charging (Pantograph/Opportunity Charging) infrastructure would solve these issues as these systems use high-power chargers (up to 450–600 kW) at end-of-route stations. In 7 minutes, they can add approximately 20% to 35% to the battery. I based this example off of the 7 minutes the 36 Leeds-Harrogate/Ripon which uses this system when on stand in Harrogate Bus Station, doing the route on the opposite direction they get 10 minutes which means for each round trip they do the Bus is on charge for 17 minutes which pretty much maintains the Bus is at full charge all day.
As for Layover times with the 21 the current running boards are another issue as I have just looked over a few and they're between 2-7 minutes in Newcastle with latter not being sufficient at all, even at other points of the route i.e. Gateshead, Chester-Le-Street, Durham and Brandon drivers get 2-4 minutes so depending on what board you're on you get between 4-11 minutes layover in total which in turn given the milage of a Newcastle-Brandon run isn't much at all.
I think the 58 would operate fine if there was infrastructure installed at Heworth Metro as they get around 9 minutes layover from 10am onwards from viewing timetables.
Things need to change for this to work
As for Layover times with the 21 the current running boards are another issue as I have just looked over a few and they're between 2-7 minutes in Newcastle with latter not being sufficient at all, even at other points of the route i.e. Gateshead, Chester-Le-Street, Durham and Brandon drivers get 2-4 minutes so depending on what board you're on you get between 4-11 minutes layover in total which in turn given the milage of a Newcastle-Brandon run isn't much at all.
I think the 58 would operate fine if there was infrastructure installed at Heworth Metro as they get around 9 minutes layover from 10am onwards from viewing timetables.
Things need to change for this to work
RE: Electric Buses/new orders
(Yesterday, 5:35 pm)alexanderdennis0312933 wrote Presuming they're StreetLites?
On Bustimes.org it has 8355/8356 but no record of what the vehicle type is or registration plate.
Probably just a Depot Staff setting up Ticket Machines and testing them before potential New Midi Buses arrive if any are on order as part of the Go-Ahead Group Order or if we're due newer Second Buses from other Go-Ahead Divisions.
The current fleet of Midi Buses goes up to 8354 (WX12 GEJ) which is an Ex Swindon Streetlite.
RE: Electric Buses/new orders
(Yesterday, 12:43 pm)F114TML wrote Believe they're being trickle charged at Slatyford as the chargers are non-existent at the minute? Hopefully a Slatyford drivercan correct me.
Yes we are currently charging our Yutongs using diesel generators and only have 10 out of our 18 in service. Chargers are being installed as we speak but probably won’t be ready until March/April at the earliest. Currently the 10 out in service have to be back in the depot for 7pm to charge overnight.
RE: Electric Buses/new orders
(Yesterday, 7:30 pm)F114TML wrote Presumably these numbers will be given to two of the E200EVs?
E200EVs for Riverside? For what services again? Sorry, I can't remember! Are these for the X66? Can't remember what single deckers are for the X66. There are so many new buses entering service, it's hard to keep up.
RE: Electric Buses/new orders
(Yesterday, 9:30 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote E200EVs for Riverside? For what services again? Sorry, I can't remember! Are these for the X66? Can't remember what single deckers are for the X66. There are so many new buses entering service, it's hard to keep up.
E200EV's are for the X66 and should be delivered in the coming weeks.
RE: Electric Buses/new orders
RE: Electric Buses/new orders
(Yesterday, 8:53 pm)Malarkey wrote From looking at Bustimes.org GNE Fleet List 42/50 Ultroliners/Electroliners have been delivered, should be another 8 Ultroliners to be delivered at some point which would be 6401-6408 for Washington Depot.
I thought GNE were only getting 23 or 25 diesel Ultroliners, not 31?
As 6378-6408 would make 31.
No disrespect but if GNE have took the option extra diesel Ultroliners, these should be for the X21 IMO.
RE: Electric Buses/new orders
(Yesterday, 9:41 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Thanks, Malarkey. Single deckers for the X66 is a ridiculous allocation with how busy they get at the current frequency. Do we know where the supershuttle E200 MMCs are going?
I fully agree, the X66 should be Double Decker Allocation as it seems to be most days currently but it is Go North East and they'll never learn.
Supershuttle E200MMC's I would imagine will join the rest of the batch at Consett unless the full batch get moved altogether on something like the 4 (Heworth to Houghton).
RE: Electric Buses/new orders
There's a couple of Streetdecks at Deptford waiting for service, and by the looks of it missing a couple of parts on the one at the front, it's got no headlight covers.
RE: Electric Buses/new orders
(Yesterday, 8:53 pm)Malarkey wrote From looking at Bustimes.org GNE Fleet List 42/50 Ultroliners/Electroliners have been delivered, should be another 8 Ultroliners to be delivered at some point which would be 6401-6408 for Washington Depot.
I was travelling on the 8 going through beamish to Stanley and I asked the mentor driver about this (bus was quiet) and he seems to think there is more to come.didnt say which depot or routes
Sorry I forgot to mention he said deckers
RE: Electric Buses/new orders
(Yesterday, 8:39 pm)ReDemPTiion wrote Yes we are currently charging our Yutongs using diesel generators and only have 10 out of our 18 in service. Chargers are being installed as we speak but probably won’t be ready until March/April at the earliest. Currently the 10 out in service have to be back in the depot for 7pm to charge overnight.
That's absolutely mental state of affairs.
It reminds me at the height of the energy price crisis, Ralph Roberts of McGill's said it worked out cheaper to use diesel generators than plug straight in to the national grid!