2002 and the birth of the Transbus Merger of Alexander & Dennis coachbuilders saw a new tri-axle vehicle enter the market : The Enviro 500. The vehicle, a devolpment of Hong Kong's Trident 3, was first delivered to the operator KMB in 2002 / 2003.
The type has gained favour since that time, and has broken new markets for Alexander Dennis, as well as expand with existing ones, such as Dublin Bus.
Range expansion has seen 3 variants of Enviro 500 come on the Market. The first is the Intergral Variant, the Second the Volvo B9TL and the third the Hybrid variant.
In Dublin, the B9 was choosen by Dublin Bus. VT20, seen above at Wadelai Park in January 2006, and VT40, seen at O'Connell Street, represent the two types operated by Dublin. Donnybrook's VT1-20 (05-D-70001-70020) in December 2005/January 2006 with Phibsboro's VT21-70 arriving in late 2007. The types are somewhat similar , with the 2007 variants featuring a larger door overhang, LED units, camera viewing at the rear and slightly higher passenger capacity.
Currently, the Type is avalable in 12m and 12.8m variants, wheelchair accessable and can be obtained with ADL's Cummins ISMe335 engine, or Cummins ISLe340 Engine. The vairants for North America differ, being fitted with Cummins ISM-330 engines coupled to a Voith gearbox. Width is generally 2.50m, and the veichles can carry 90-110 passengers with 15-30 more standing. From 2006 the EURO IV engines, which require Adblue , became avalable for Cummins and Volvo variants.
The Volvo variant differs technically, with Volvo D9A 300hp engine running on the EURO III for VT 1-20, while VT21-70 operate on the Volvo D9B EURO IV 310hp. Otherwise minor body differences apply mainly due to a slightly modified engine venting at the back (see below for Intergral variants).
The Hybrid variant of the Enviro 500 came on the market in 2008, utilising GM-Allison's Paralell Hybrid System, offering up to 50% in the fuel consumption.
Probably the Enviro 500's biggest success has been in Exports. Although the type is numerous in Hong Kong, the vehicles have been instrumental in breaking ADL into North America, as can be seen from the photos below of New York (1) and San Francisco (2 & 3) , Gray Line in the US has been a prolific buyer of the type for tours work. The type is also used for commuter work in Las Vegas , Seattle and in Canada Ottawa, Toronto and Victoria , and trials in Australia.
2008/2009 also saw the Enviro 500 penetrate the UK Market, when First Glasgow began using 25 Enviro 500's on it's network (4).
One of the Enviro 500's competitors, particularly in Hong Kong, is the Wright Eclipse Gemini Tri-Axle, a derivitive from their highly sucessful Gemini double decker.
An example is seen here at the ITT Rally at Cultra in April 2006.
The type's sucess in the US Market has seen ADL enter into an agreement with the Calefornia based El Dorado International to assemble the Enviro 500 body in the US. Otherwise the bodywork is usually undertaken by Alexander Dennis ' Mallusk plant in Falkirk, Scotland.
In Dublin VT1-20 can typically be found on the Flagship 46A and 46B routes, while VT21-70 are more open, with Cross City Route 10, Northside 33X and the Blanchardstown/ Lucan corridors hosting the type.
Judging from demonstrating trials in Australia undertaken in 2007, it wouldnt be outside the bounds of realism to guess that if ADL contunie to be successful in showing the Enviro 500's pedigree, they will emerge on every continent in the world before long.
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