Electric bus to be trialled by Cunningsburgh company

A LOCAL bus operator is set to carry out a three-week trial of an electric bus.

Cunningsburgh-based J&DS Halcrow will test out the Alexander Dennis Enviro100EV vehicle as part of efforts to understand how an electric bus could work in a Shetland setting.

It comes after Shetland Islands Council held its own trial of an electric bus last year, which concluded that they would be technically feasible, but there would be barriers such as cost and charging constraints.

J&DS Halcrow said its own trial will focus on the practical capabilities of an electric bus, with its range a key area of investigation.

The company said that winter would provide a “particularly valuable opportunity” to carry out the trial.

Energy consumption, charging requirements and manoeuvrability on J&DS Halcrow routes will all be assessed.

“The future direction of travel in the passenger transport industry is towards electric vehicles, and we want to be at the forefront of that transition in Shetland,” it said.

“This trial gives us the opportunity to find out what the current generation of electric buses can achieve in real world conditions.

“Shetland presents its own challenges for operating buses, and winter is an ideal time to put the vehicle to the test.”