Alexander Dennis Enviro200

Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart
Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart
	A Compass Bus Enviro200 Dart used on services in West Sussex.
Overview
Manufacturer	Alexander Dennis; New Flyer (as New Flyer MiDi)
Body and chassis
Doors	1 door or 2 doors
Floor type	Low floor
Chassis	Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart; MAN 14.240
Powertrain
Engine	Cummins ISBe (ADL Enviro200 Dart); MAN D0836 LOH 52 (MAN 14.240)
Capacity	42–77
Power output	140hp/160hp/205hp/225hp (Cummins); 240hp (MAN)
Transmission	ADL Enviro200 Dart; Allison 2100, Allison T280R, Voith DIWA823.3e or Voith DIWA854.5; MAN 14.240; Voith D854.5 or ZF 6 HP 504
Dimensions
Length	8.9 metres (29 ft) - 11.3 metres (37 ft)
Width	2,440 millimetres (8.01 ft)
Curb weight	12000-13100kg

The Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart is a midibus manufactured by Alexander Dennis since 2006 for the British market as the successor of the Dart SLF chassis and Pointer body. The Enviro200 Dart is manufactured and marketed in North America by New Flyer as the MiDi.^[1]

Design

The Enviro200 Dart, as it was originally known, was announced by Alexander Dennis on 20 March 2006, with the vehicle being launched at a media event at the Alexander Dennis factory in Guildford in August of that year. The bus is available in five lengths, ranging from 8.9m to 11.4m.

Unlike the innovative but unsuccessful TransBus Enviro200, the chassis of Enviro200 Dart (also known as the Dart 4^[2]) retains the conventional rear-engined layout of the Dart, and is offered with a choice of four or six-cylinder Cummins ISBe Euro IV engines with a range of transmission options, and features new front and rear axles.

It offers the same seating capacity of the Pointer, but with more 'fixed' seats rather than 'tip up' for each length. The vehicle features integrated chassis and body multiplexing, and cantilevered seats.

Externally, the bus features the same front panel as the double-deck Enviro400, projecting a "family look" onto the two models. The Enviro200 Dart chassis is also available with East Lancs Esteem and MCV Evolution bodywork.

As of February 2007 the body of Enviro200 Dart became available on MAN 14.240 chassis, this is to give the option of EGR emissions reduction as some operators prefer this technology to the Cummins' SCR.

In August 2007, due to significant orders for the Enviro400, Alexander Dennis announced that the production of Enviro200 bodywork would be moved from the Alexander Dennis's plant at Falkirk to the recently acquired Plaxton factory at Scarborough. This meant that the Scarborough factory would once again be producing the bodywork for the Dart chassis, and producing the bodywork for the MAN 14.240 at the same time as the Plaxton Centro and Enviro200 bodies.

In 2008, Alexander Dennis unveiled the hybrid-electric powered version of Enviro200 Dart (known as the Enviro200H, not to be confused with the TransBus Enviro200H which was unveiled in 2003) using BAE Systems's HybriDrive series drive system with the Cummins ISBe 4-cylinder engine fitted for power generation.^[3]

In early 2011, the Enviro200 was modified in order to meet the European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA) regulations.^[4] Apart from the change of body length options, other modifications include:

Space was reserved below the headlamps for installation of daytime running lamps.
Offside emergency door, which was no longer mandatory for dual-door version, was relocated from the rear to the centre.
New rear bumper was used, with lowered position for the registration number plate.
New rear engine cover was used, without the model name 'ENVIRO200'.

The orders

60 confirmed vehicles were ordered at the vehicle's launch, with options for up to 50 more being declared. The first Enviro200 Dart which entered service in August 2006 with Leigh-based Jim Stones Coaches was a 10.7m version of the model. The first Enviro200 Darts in the London area were two 8.9m models with Sunray Travel, which had won the route 516 contract from September 2006. The first Enviro200 Darts for a Transport for London contract were six 10.2m Enviro200 Darts for Travel London for use on route 152 from December 2006. Another early customer for the Enviro200 Dart was East Yorkshire Motor Services, taking four 10.7m buses in December 2006 and a further eight 10.7m buses during 2007. Currently most operators of London Buses routes own Enviro200 Darts.

A number of independent UK bus operators have purchased Enviro200 buses. National Express West Midlands ordered 30 B37F seated Enviro200 buses which started in service from early January 2013.

The Enviro200 Dart was also sold for export. In January 2007 Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation of Hong Kong ordered 11 Enviro200 Darts for delivery in 2008.^[5] They are 11.3 metres in length and entered service with MTR Bus in 2008/2009. Kowloon Motor Bus of Hong Kong introduced 30 of the 10.4-metre buses during 2011, and another 11 in 2013 with single door design. Bus Éireann of Ireland received 23 buses during 2008/2009. One demonstrator was exported to Australia. At least 8 Enviro200 Dart chassis were sold to Spain. In New Zealand, NZ Bus, Howick & Eastern Buses and Mana Coach Services have introduced 354 of 11.3-metre Enviro200 Darts since 2011.

Stagecoach ordered 50 the Enviro200-bodied MAN 14.240 buses in 2007 (for delivery in 2008) and ordered a further 32 in 2008, making it one of the standard Stagecoach midibuses. These have rounded instead of squared gasket glazing.

Gallery

Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart demonstrator at the time on loan to Merseyside-based HTL Buses.
Rear view of an NCP-Challenger Enviro200 Dart, on London's bus route 440.
An example of the body on an different manufacturer's chassis, this an MAN 14.240/Enviro200 operated by Stagecoach in Hants & Surrey.
An Enviro200 Dart owned by Hansons in 29 seat style about to leave Westfield Merry Hill on a Centro contract.
A 37-seat Enviro200 Dart of Northumbria University.
An MTR Bus Enviro200 Dart used in service in Hong Kong.
An Enviro200 Dart with an MCV Evolution Body with Merseyside-based Avon Buses.
A Short Wheelbase version of the Enviro200 in use on the Rotherham FreeBee