Harrogate are testing a Yutong electric thing at the moment on 'The 1', borrowed from Go North East.
Twittery linky
More testing times, this time with
@PelicanYutong’s electric single decker as we continue trials ahead of future investment in zero emission for
@harrogatebus #the1 Great to have a drive for a change - and a nice drive it was too
Pictured with some questionable parking at a bus stop, causing a minor traffic blockage with no one in the drivers seat...
It does show how quickly battery technology has come along in the few short years since the Volvo Electrics entered service. Whereas they need the quick charges at the bus station between services I'm guessing these will be able to do a full day (or there abouts) in service without a recharge.
I also notice that the previously much publicised electric service to Pateley Bridge has been quietly unplugged, I believe it's exclusively run with dinosaur juice powered buses again. Although it did seem quite an inefficient service to run, requiring an additional electric bus to run whilst the other was charging... The electric Solo's haven't been seen in service anywhere for a long time now.
Not much else to report on over the other side of the Pennines in Lancashire that hasn't been reported already.
There's still at least one Solo on the Rosso Rovers network that is still completely unbranded, unusually it doesn't even carry a temporary Transdev logo. It looks very unidentifiable which is very unusual for Transdev it has to be said.
The 'new' Hotline is 'hotting up', apparently, and they'll be out on the road this Sunday.
(As Peter posted above)...
As can be seen, a slightly different but much better route branding. And also a slight orange highlight, I'm guessing because 'hot', rather than a nod to Burnley orange considering it's a Blackburn service. They've also been updated with USB charging.