UK / New Zealand - Alexander Dennis Ltd (ADL) of Larbert, UK (a subsidiary of Canadian bus and coach builder, NFI Group Inc) has recently renewed its partnership with New Zealand bus body and coach builder, Kiwi Bus Builders, resulting in the delivery of six electric buses to Fullers360 for Auckland Transport services on Waiheke Island, NZ. ADL is to supply an additional two electric buses to Fullers360 subsidiary, Waiheke Bus Company before Christmas, resulting in half of all the buses on the island being converted to zero emission operation. (The Auckland Transport Waiheke Island bus network connects communities with Fullers360’s frequent ferries to the mainland).

ADL's renewed partnership Kiwi Bus Builders will now also include the assembly of electric buses, which for the New Zealand market had previously taken place overseas. In addition to two-axle models like those for Waiheke Island, the partners plan to produce 12.6m long, three-axle electric buses (the Enviro200XLB). ADL says this three-axle model has been designed for the specific requirements of bus operation in New Zealand by carrying 78 passengers without the requirement of an overweight permit (18 tonne GVM Road User Charge), a first for New Zealand.