ADL delivers electric buses to
Auckland’s Waiheke Island and renews
New Zealand partnership
Alexander Dennis Limited
(“ADL”), a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. (“NFI”), one of the world’s largest independent
global bus manufacturers, today announced that it has delivered six electric buses to
Fullers360 for Auckland Transport services on Waiheke Island and that it is renewing
its partnership with New Zealand manufacturer Kiwi Bus Builders.
ADL will supply an additional two electric buses to Fullers360 subsidiary Waiheke Bus
Company before Christmas, allowing half of all buses on the island to be converted to zero
emission operation. The Auckland Transport Waiheke Island bus network connects
communities with Fullers360’s frequent ferries to the mainland.
At the launch event, attended by the Mayor of Auckland and the British Consul General in
Auckland, ADL announced its renewed partnership with local manufacturer Kiwi Bus Builders.
This will now include the assembly of electric buses, which for the New Zealand market had
until now taken place overseas.
In addition to two-axle models like those for Waiheke Island, the partners will produce 12.6m
long, three-axle electric buses, which ADL has designed for the specific requirements of bus
operation in New Zealand by carrying 78 passengers without the requirement of an overweight
permit, a first for New Zealand. As the country prepares to fully transition its bus fleet to zero
emission vehicles by 2035, their local assembly will support up to 100 jobs at Kiwi Bus
Builders.
ADL’s General Manager for New Zealand, Tony Moore, said: “We have been a major supplier
to New Zealand for almost ten years and during this time have already supplied 500 vehicles
with the help of our friends at Kiwi Bus Builders.
As Auckland Transport and other transport
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authorities prepare to move to a zero emission fleet, we are renewing this partnership in a
clear sign of our support for New Zealand jobs and our commitment to this market.”
Richard Drummond, Managing Director of Kiwi Bus Builders, said: “The Enviro200 range of
electric buses are not only designed for our local requirements here in New Zealand, but are
also built in this country. With investment in updated build techniques, we will be able to scale
up our production to meet demand from Auckland and elsewhere in New Zealand as the fleet
transformation gets under way ahead of the 2035 zero emissions target.”
ADL’s electric buses for New Zealand are part of the BYD ADL Enviro200EV range using
latest BYD iron phosphate battery and driveline technology, which has demonstrated its
reliability and efficiency in over 60 000 zero emission buses worldwide.