Glasgow is the first UK airport to introduce a fleet of zero-emission electric buses to its car park operation.
The three-strong fleet of all-electric battery buses, which were built in Scotland by Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL), replace the current diesel fleet used to shuttle passengers between the terminal and the airport’s long-stay car park.
Mark Johnston, Managing Director, Glasgow Airport, with Charlie Miller, Regional Sales Manager, Alexander Dennis Limited. The three-strong fleet of all-electric battery buses, which were built in Scotland by Alexander Dennis Limited, replace the current diesel fleet used to shuttle passengers between the terminal and the airport’s long-stay car park.
It is the first time the BYD ADL Enviro200EV model has been operated anywhere in Scotland and its introduction at Glasgow Airport was made possible thanks to a £450,000 Green Bus Fund support grant from Transport Scotland.
“We are proud to be the first airport in the UK to incorporate a full-electric bus fleet into our car park operation,” says Mark Johnston, Managing Director, Glasgow Airport. “These state-of-the-art vehicles will play an important role in supporting our continued efforts to create a more sustainable business and will contribute significantly to help further reduce carbon emissions locally at Glasgow Airport. The environmental benefits and considerable cost reductions associated with the introduction of these electric vehicles was very attractive. Moving to a full-electric bus operation cuts the carbon emissions associated with passenger travel to and from our car park from 143 tonnes per year to zero, and this significant reduction is further supported by the fact that the airport’s electricity is also supplied via renewable energy.”
It is the first time the BYD ADL Enviro200EV model has been operated anywhere in Scotland and its introduction at Glasgow Airport was made possible thanks to a £450,000 Green Bus Fund support grant from Transport Scotland.
The launch of the airport’s new electric fleet coincided with Scotland’s Climate Week 2019. Events were organised in schools, colleges and workplaces across the country to encourage people to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“I’m pleased that the Scottish Government has been able to help fund these new electric buses at Glasgow Airport which will eliminate 143 tonnes of carbon emissions from passenger travel operations,” says Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity. “The uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles is central to meeting our climate change commitments and our goal of making Scotland’s air quality the best in Europe. At the same time, decarbonisation and the global transition towards electric mobility provides real opportunities for sustainable economic growth. We will continue to work to position Scotland at the forefront of this movement and to maximise the economic opportunities afforded through innovation – as demonstrated in this exciting joint project between ADL and BYD Europe.”
The introduction of the new full-electric bus fleet is one of a number of projects introduced to help reduce Glasgow Airport’s carbon footprint. Earlier this year, the airport invested £200,000 to deploy eight petrol/electric plug-in hybrid Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 4×4 vehicles across its airfield operations.
Charging infrastructure for the three buses has been installed at the airport’s long-stay car park and the fleet will be operated by NCP. At 10.8m long, each bus has both front and rear access points, 23 seats, three-tier luggage compartments and includes wheelchair provision.
