New Leeds Park & Ride launched with five BYD ADL Enviro400EVs
Alexander Dennis and BYD have supplied five Enviro400EV double-deck buses to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and First Bus for the new Stourton park-and-ride service in Leeds.
The electric buses are owned and operated by First West Yorkshire under contract with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority who secured funding from the Department for Transport’s Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme.
Built at ADL’s factory in Scarborough, each 10.8m long BYD ADL Enviro400EV offers up to 69 seats and has a range of up to 160 miles on a single charge.
The site at Stourton is the first solar-powered park-and-ride in the UK, and is also the third park-and-ride site in Leeds. Departing up to every 10 minutes, the new zero emission double-decks take under 15 minutes from the site at the M621 motorway to the heart of Leeds city centre.
Stourton park-and-ride has 45 solar panels that cover the size of 18 tennis courts and generate the capacity to power the entire site’s electrical needs via a battery storage system.
Other features of the new park-and-ride site include 26 fast electric vehicle charging ports and 4 rapid chargers totalling 30 EV charging spaces, secure bicycle storage and 1,200 vehicle spaces.
As well as using solar panels to generate electricity for lighting, electric vehicle charging, CCTV security and heat for the terminus building and waiting room, the site has more than 11,000 trees and shrubs and the terminus building features a ‘green roof’, helping to reduce urban air temperatures and creating a habitat for wildlife.
Kim Groves, West Yorkshire Transport Committee lead member for public transport, says: “As the UK’s first solar-powered park-and-ride, Stourton is enhancing transport links in Leeds and West Yorkshire and making a positive impact on the local economy and businesses. The reduced commuting times and lower commuting costs are a major boost for people working in the city, in terms of both their wellbeing and their daily routines.
“And of course, Stourton Park & Ride is also making an important contribution to the Leeds City Region achieving a net zero carbon economy by 2038.”
Martin Hirst, commercial director, First West Yorkshire, adds: “Stourton park-and-ride is growing in popularity since we began the service as people discover how easy it is to get in and out from the south side of Leeds. We expect this to continue as more customers see the benefits of time and money saved through sustainable travel which helps to reduce congestion and create cleaner air in the city.”