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This text is about the modified version of the Enviro 500 diesel bus produced after 2012:
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The diesel engine-driven version of the Alexander Dennis Enviro500 MMC (亞歷山大丹尼士Enviro500 MMC / E50D) is a three-axis double-decker low-floor bus produced by Alexander Dennis in the United Kingdom, which was officially launched in 2012. In the "Enviro" series, this model is an improved version and successor of the Enviro500, which is the first major model change item of the manufacturer; among them, "MMC", is all written as "Major Model Change", which means that this Enviro500 has undergone major changes. (The same situation is also applied to the later improved versions of Enviro400 and Enviro200 Dart, that is, Enviro400 MMC and Enviro200 MMC).
The Enviro500 MMC is a popular bus model in Hong Kong due to its low emissions, good performance and high capacity, and the fact that the four franchised bus companies have been introducing this model to KMB, LWB, Citybus and NWFB from 2014 to 2017, when they are at the peak of their bus replacement programme[6][7][8][9]. The total number of Enviro500 MMCs purchased by the four operators alone exceeds 3,500, accounting for more than half of the total franchised bus fleet in Hong Kong, making it the single most popular bus model in the history of Hong Kong's franchised bus fleet.[10] This has completely broken the dominance of Leyland/Volvo in Hong Kong's franchised bus market in the past decades, and has caused the market share of bus brands such as Volvo, MAN and Scania to drop significantly, thus establishing Alexander Dennis as the "No. 1" in the franchised bus market and creating a "one-maker, one-size-fits-all" pattern.
Since 2012, the Enviro500 MMC body can be equipped with a modified Volvo B9TL three-axle chassis with a square ladder design, which has never been available in Hong Kong. The model is also available in a hybrid version called Enviro500 MMC Hybrid.
Model overview[]
After providing a new body design for the North American Enviro500 in 2011[11], Alexander Dennis and KMB co-developed a new generation of Euro V Enviro500 double-decker buses for use in Hong Kong in 2012[12]. This 12.8-metre double-decker bus, currently the longest in Hong Kong, adopts a design similar to that of the Hong Kong version of the Enviro400, resulting in a lighter bus that saves fuel consumption. Coupled with a more energy-efficient air-conditioning system, it effectively reduces carbon emissions by up to 10%, further enhancing the environmental performance of the fleet.
In addition, the new chassis has been redesigned by MMC Project Team engineers to use ZF axles, and the drivetrain has been shifted to the left side of the bus to provide a flatter floor, and compatibility with Euro 6 engines and even hybrid technology. The new chassis is named "Trident E500 Turbo" with the code name E50D (D stands for Diesel, while the hybrid version is named "Trident E500 Hybrid" with the code name E50H, and H stands for Hybrid), and is also available in two lengths, 11.3 metres and 12 metres. The 12-metre version is further subdivided into an Airport Specification and a normal version[13].
The new Enviro500, with its many innovative features, was then officially named "Enviro500 MMC"[14][15] (where "MMC" refers to "Major Model Change", and the abbreviation E500MMC is used for Citybus and NWFB below). A British netizen photographed an Enviro500 with the new design in 2012, which was rumoured to be destined for testing by KMB, and the colour of the interior was pointed out to be of the NWFB and Citybus styles (i.e. light purple)[16] It was later confirmed that it was a prototype used by Alexander Dennis for testing, and it was still parked at the factory, retaining its white paintwork.
At the Euro Bus Expo 2012 held in Birmingham, the participant Alexander Dennis, officially announced the launch of the new generation Enviro500 on 6 November and presented the results of the manufacturer's scientific research with KMB, i.e., the current ATENU1/RZ5946 (Chassis Serial No. 2553)[17][18][19]. On the other hand, ADL transferred a Cityflyer coach version of the Enviro500 MMC to Edinburgh, Scotland on 11 December for evaluation and trial by Lothian Buses; a separate demonstrator bus was built and painted in Citybus livery[20][21], i.e. 8320 (Chassis No. 2450), which was later delivered to Citybus, arrived in Hong Kong on 11 September 2013[22] together with KMB's ATENU135 (Chassis No. 2457), and both buses were registered on 30 and 31 October of the same year respectively.
In 2014, the 12.8m version was launched for the Hong Kong market, and Citybus and KMB had purchased one and two demonstrator buses respectively. Subsequently, the four franchised bus companies ordered the 12.8m production version, which was 800mm longer than the length required by Hong Kong law[23]. For road safety reasons, the Transport Department (TD) used to require that 12.8-metre buses had to apply for an exemption permit at the time of vehicle examination before they could be put into service in Hong Kong. In order to reduce the operating costs of franchised bus companies, the Transport and Housing Bureau submitted a paper to the Legislative Council on 13 November 2017 proposing to amend the legislation to permanently exempt franchised bus companies from applying for exemption permits for buses with a length and width of 12.8 metres and 2.55 metres respectively[24][25][26]. In fact, the TransBus Enviro500 with a 2.51-metre wide body with a first-generation body landed in Hong Kong 14 years ago and was issued with an exemption permit by the Transport Department (TD) in 2003 and commenced operation in Hong Kong[27].
List of nicknames[]
The Enviro500 MMC is the most common bus model in Hong Kong, hence its nicknames, examples of which are listed below:
Model design[]
Chassis[]
Bodywork[]
Axle[]
Categorisation of chassis numbers[]
Situation of purchase[]
From 2012 to 2022, Transport International has ordered 2,593 Enviro500 MMC buses for its two Hong Kong franchised bus companies, KMB and LWB, which are the largest number of buses in the world in terms of the number of lengths of each model supplied to Hong Kong[40].
Bravo Transport's Citybus and NWFB introduced a total of 1,135 Enviro500 MMC buses between 2013 and 2022, also covering the length of Hong Kong's fleet.
On the other hand, MTR Bus and CLP Power also have a fleet of Enviro500 MMCs. The former has a total of 46 11.3-metre and three 12-metre Enviro500 MMCs, with CLP Power's 12-metre version being the only one in the fleet.
In view of the huge fleet of Enviro500 MMC buses in Hong Kong, this article will be divided into sub-pages by bus companies, focusing on the batch information of the Enviro500 MMCs purchased by each company:
| Kowloon Motor Bus | Long Win Bus | Citybus | New World First Bus | MTR Bus | CLP Power |
Related Articles[]
Notes and References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 For use on low-height Enviro500 MMC 12.5m in New Zealand only
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 For use on Enviro500 MMC 11.8m in Malaysia only
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 For use on Singapore's Enviro500 MMC 12m only, with amendments made to axis distances and headspans (see: [歡迎討論]E50D底盤佈局之我見, hkitalk.net).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 For use on Enviro500 MMC 13/13.8m left-hand drive with dual-staircase version in Europe only
- ↑ 新巴派未出牌巴士行走 81S (NWFB deploys unregistered bus on Route 81S), hkitalk.net
- ↑ LCQ12: Maintenance and repair of franchised buses, 12 July 2017.
- ↑ Retired models include non-low-floor buses such as Volvo Olympian, Dennis Dragon/Condor, and first-generation low-floor buses such as Dennis Trident, Volvo Super Olympian, Neoplan Centroliner, MAN 24.310, and others.
- ↑ busandcoachbuyer.com - alexander-dennis
- ↑ Record UK year for ADL, Route-One, 21 June 2017.
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ Alexander Dennis set to unveil stylish new look for double deck range, Alexander Dennis, 31 August 2011.
- ↑ Bus Fleet and Fleet Upgrade, Transport International Holdings Limited Annual Report 2013
- ↑ ADL Enviro500 Asia (Chassis and Body) Integration Detailed Information
- ↑ Citybus Press Release: Cityflyers Introduces the New-generation Euro5 Double-deckers Offering Brand New Travelling Experience with a Stylish and Intelligent Upgrade, 26 March 2013.
- ↑ NWS Transport publication in June 2013 (Chinese only)
- ↑ Flickr: New enviro 500 for KMB. it's going to millbrook for testing then gets painted
- ↑ New-generation Enviro500: Lighter, more fuel-efficient and set to raise the bar, Alexander Dennis, 6 November 2012.
- ↑ The new-generation Enviro500, Oriental Model Buses
- ↑ [多圖] 九巴新E50D全接觸 ([Multiple pictures] View of KMB's new E50D), hkitalk.net
- ↑ CTB #82xx 試車集(2) (Testing of CTB #82XX), hkitalk.net
- ↑ Oriental Model Buses Website 2nd May 2013 News
- ↑ Related picture, "碼頭的辛酸" Facebook page.
- ↑ Road Traffic (Construction and Maintenance of Vehicles) Regulations (Chapter 374A of the Laws of Hong Kong, Schedule 1 - Gross Dimensions of Vehicles).
- ↑ Proposed Revision to Fees and Charges Relating to Road Traffic (Batch 4), Legislative Council Panel on Transport, 17 November 2017
- ↑ 運房局建議16項收費加價 鎖押車輛等收費加5%至33% (THB proposes to increase the prices of 16 items of fees and charges, including locking up vehicles, by 5% to 33%), Ming Pao, 13 November 2017.
- ↑ 拖車費擬增至160元 (Towing fee to increase to $160), Apple Daily, 14 November 2017.
- ↑ 運房局建議永久豁免 12.8m 長 /2.55m 闊巴士申請許可證 (THB proposes to permanently exempt 12.8m long/2.55m wide buses from the permit requirement), hkitalk.net
- ↑ The word "popping bus" only applies on Enviro500 MMCs assembled in China; its name comes from the uneven workmanship of bus bodywork which caused the popping noise from the components while running.
- ↑ The word "foot-pinching bus" only applies on all normal version Enviro500 MMC buses in KMB and LWB fleets (except ATENU1, 135), all 12m, 12.8m buses and 11.3m Facelift-bodied buses on Citybus and NWFB fleet with Citylight seats, as well as Facelift-bodied 11.3m buses in CLP and MTR Bus fleets.
- ↑ Only applies on Facelift-bodied Enviro500 MMC.
- ↑ Only applies on 1st generation-bodied Enviro500 MMC (as they were assembled with the bodywork older than Facelift bodyworks).
- ↑ Only applies on LWB's Facelift-bodied semi-luxury Enviro500 MMC buses.
- ↑ Only applies on LWB's Facelift-bodied luxury Enviro500 MMC buses.
- ↑ Only applies on KMB's Enviro500 MMCs with the Heartbeat of The City livery.
- ↑ Only applies on LWB's Enviro500 MMCs replaced with Heartbeat of The City livery.
- ↑ Only applies on Facelift-bodied Enviro500 MMC (name originated from the hairline of the then Legislative Council member Cheung Wah-fung which has a similar front-end lines of Facelift bodywork).
- ↑ Only applies on 12.8m Enviro500 MMCs.
- ↑ Only applies on Euro VI Enviro500 MMCs with L9 engines, named because of its loud acceleration wind sounds
- ↑ Named because of the fact that Enviro500 MMC is the most common bus model in Hong Kong, and that the surname Chan or Chen (陳) is the largest surname in Southern China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore
- ↑ Among which only the 11.3 metre version is owned by KMB.