Zenobē powers National Express West Midlands’ electrification ambitions as 170 new buses hit the road
- Zenobē has announced 170 zero emission buses have gone into service as part of its longstanding collaboration with National Express West Midlands
- Zenobē is providing an end-to-end Electric Transport as a Service (ETaaS) solution to the operator
- Each of the 170 buses will save an average of 61 tonnes of carbon annually, reducing CO2 emissions by almost 20,000 tonnes each year*.
22nd April 2025
Zenobē, the vehicle fleet electrification and battery storage specialist, has announced that 170 zero emission buses have gone into service as part of their long-standing collaboration with National Express West Midlands.
The new Alexander Dennis Enviro400 double decker zero emission buses come as part of a £95 million investment, with Zenobē working with National Express West Midlands to make them a leader in the e-bus market. Each of the 170 buses will save an average of 61 tonnes of carbon annually, reducing CO2 emissions by almost 20,000 tonnes each year*.
Zenobē are supporting the transition to electric by providing an end-to-end Electric Transport as a Service (ETaaS) solution to National Express West Midlands, following its successful delivery at National Express’ flagship All-Electric Bus City project in Coventry. ETaaS includes financing the buses and on-board batteries, ensuring performance while in use and replacing them at the end of their first, usable life.
Zenobē will monitor and optimise the fleet’s energy use by integrating its proprietary software platform, as well as parts and operational support. These services will support the dedicated rapid chargers installed at depots by Zenobe to recharge the buses quickly and efficiently.
Completing the ETaaS offering, the buses are supported by second-life batteries that are repurposed from electric bus batteries that have come to the end of their first, usable life. Installed by Zenobē at the depot, they release energy stored during peak periods, providing the National Express West Midlands bus fleet with much needed power at times of high demand.
Steven Meersman, Founder Director of Zenobē, said:
“Today marks another key milestone in National Express’s journey toward a zero-emission future, and Zenobē is proud to be a driving force behind it.
“What began over six years ago with just 19 vehicles at Yardley Wood has grown into a nationwide partnership, now supporting over 300 vehicles across the country. From procuring vehicles and onboard batteries to designing and managing charging infrastructure, we’ve delivered a fully tailored, end-to-end solution at Yardley Wood that supports National Express’s bold ambitions and meets their long-term operational goals.”
Antony Goozee, Bus Strategy and Commercial Director at National Express West Midlands, said:
“Replacing our diesel buses with electric vehicles and modernising our depots are key steps in our journey towards operating a fully zero-emission bus fleet by 2030. These new clean, green double-decker buses are not just about improving efficiency and reducing our environmental impact, they also deliver a better experience for our passengers with quieter, smoother, and more comfortable journeys.”
In addition to the new vehicles, National Express West Midlands has completed a major infrastructure upgrade of its Yardley Wood depot. Originally built in 1938, the depot has been modernised with the installation of advanced charging infrastructure as part of ongoing efforts to future-proof its operations and ensure long-term sustainability in its services. The electricity to power the buses will be 100% renewable and zero carbon.
Notes to editor
*Based on data from existing National Express West Midlands zero emissions electric vehicles compared to a diesel bus.
About Zenobē Energy Ltd. (Zenobē):
Zenobē is an EV fleet and grid-scale battery storage specialist, headquartered in the UK. The company began operations in 2017 and now employs >300 FTEs with a wide range of leading skills including electrical engineering, software development, computer sciences and financing.
Zenobē is the leading owner and operator of grid-scale batteries on the GB transmission network and is expanding into Australasia and North America. Zenobē has 1135MW of battery storage assets in operation or under construction.
Zenobē has around 25% market share of the UK EV bus sector and supports over 2,000 electric vehicles across 120 depots globally. The company is the largest owner and operator of EV buses in the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
For more information, please visit www.zenobe.com/ or follow on LinkedIn.
