Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dublin Airport orders Ireland’s first Electric Bus with ESB providing the EV charging solution

Crown Plaza Hotel has placed an order for a new single deck, fully electric Volvo Bus with the Electric Vehicle (EV) charging solution provided by ESB’s Smart Energy Services. The bus will operate between the Crown Plaza and Holiday Inn hotels and Dublin Airport, providing passengers with a reliable, efficient and environmentally friendly transfer service.

Garret O’Neill General Manager for the Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport & Holiday Inn Express Dublin Airport said: “As a company, we are always looking to the future and adopted facilities and services that will improve our guests’ experiences and benefit our local community and environment. Over the past number of years, we have taken a number of significant measures to reduce the hotels’ carbon footprint. While the purchase of the new Volvo 7900e electric bus is a significant financial investment for the hotel we believe it will deliver long term benefits for both the customer and the local environment.”

Scheduled for delivery at the end of 2019, the bus is a one door 12m Generation 2 7900e with 200kW battery capacity.

Michael Mahon, Head of Smart Energy Services for ESB, said: “ESB is proud to provide the high powered electric vehicle charging solution for the Crowne Plaza’s new electric bus offering. Using our wealth of experience in private and public charging infrastructure since 2010, we’ve led the infrastructure installation, site planning and consultation for this project. The high-powered 150 kW charge point system allows for smooth integration with the bus schedule, so the bus can operate an all-day basis.

Enabling the electrification of transport is a key part of ESB’s Brighter Future strategy and the company is committed to ongoing support and investment in this area. This new initiative also aligns with the National Development Plan 2018-2027 where no diesel buses can be purchased after 2019. We look forward to offering EV charging solutions to other fleet providers as well as our experience as an energy consultancy, energy management services and implementation of energy projects for businesses with large energy consumption needs.”

Through ESB’s Smart Energy Services partnership with the Crowne Plaza, ESB provided the finance solution required to invest in the charging infrastructure.

Nick Page, Managing Director for Volvo Bus UK & Ireland, said: “We’re really pleased that the 7900e has been chosen to provide services for these hotels in and around Dublin Airport and that it will be the first electric bus to enter commercial operation anywhere in Ireland. Our vision at Volvo Bus is to develop a range of vehicles, which include hybrids, electric hybrids and full electric to deliver improved air quality in the surroundings in which they operate.  We believe that working together they will significantly improve the environment for those who live, work and visit towns and cities.”