A National Express West Midlands fully-electric zero-emission bus is being displayed in the space at COP26 where global leaders are deciding the future of the world.

The West Midlands bus company lent a bus from their Birmingham fleet of electric buses - usually based at Yardley Wood garage - to sit in the Blue Zone to demonstrate how innovation and transport can save the world. The UK government had asked the manufacturer of National Express’ 29 electric buses - Alexander Dennis Limited - to send one of their market-leading zero-emission double decker buses to Glasgow for COP26. 

David Bradford, Managing Director of National Express West Midlands, said: 

“National Express West Midlands is proud to be the UK’s greenest transport company. We bought our last ever diesel bus in 2019, and our goal is that by 2030, our entire 1,600 West Midlands fleet will be zero-emission.

“In addition, our parent company, the National Express Group, which operates transport all over the world, has committed to be net zero in fuel and power by 2040.

“Our 29 ADL fully electric double decker buses have been carrying happy customers around Birmingham, Solihull and Coventry for over a year now. So they’ve already stopped over 1500 tonnes of carbon dioxide going into the atmosphere.

“It’s very exciting that one of those buses will be ‘in the room’ at COP26 where the decisions will be made that affect all of our futures.”

Paul Davies, President and Managing Director of Alexander Dennis Limited, said: 

“Electric and hydrogen buses have critically important roles to play on the road to net zero. With our zero-emission buses operating not only across the UK but around the world, it is a great honour for Alexander Dennis to have been invited by the UK government to present our zero-emission bus in the Blue Zone at COP26, reminding negotiators and world leaders that without investment in clean public transport, climate goals cannot be achieved.

“We are extremely grateful to our colleagues at National Express West Midlands for making one of their buses available for this prestigious event. We have a longstanding partnership with them and we continue to work collaboratively to ensure that we can support their fleet strategies as they continue their own transition to zero-emission transport.”

Over 1,000 battery-electric buses built in Britain by ADL in partnership with BYD are already on the road or on order in the United Kingdom. ADL’s zero-emission buses for the United Kingdom are built in Britain, securing skilled green jobs and apprenticeship opportunities in the manufacturer’s own facilities across the country as well as in its extensive supply chain. 

On display in the COP26 Blue Zone is a BYD ADL Enviro400EV double decker, which has been branded to highlight ADL’s expertise in both battery electric and hydrogen buses.

For more information about National Express’ environmental work, please see https://nxbus.co.uk/west-midlands/sustainable-travel.

For more information about Alexander Dennis, please visit www.alexander-dennis.com.