The UK’s First Electric Touring Coach Handover to Wattsway

The GTe14 collected by Mark Watts of Wattsway Travel is the first vehicle of its kind with the new style interior that debuted at the Euro Bus show in Birmingham in November 2024. It has a striking second-generation dash layout that is tablet-based and departs from any convention in that area.

The electric coach has 563kWh of battery capacity and can travel over 300 miles on a single charge. The vehicle is fitted with 53 luxury seats and is PSVAR compliant. The GTe14 has the world-leading Yutong Electric Safety Standard (YESS) battery safety system as standard, like all our electric buses and coaches.

Yutong have really delivered with this state-of-the-art vehicle: the all-new interior is matched by the all-new dashboard layout for this model. Stylishly modern, the integrated audio visual system, phone streaming, 360-degree camera, camera mirror system, mood lighting, and USBs with wireless charging docks on all seats make this a very special place to be for customers and provide the ultimate driving experience.

Wattsway Travel was an early convert to battery-electric power in coach, taking delivery of two Yutong TCe12s from 2021. These are used for home-to-school contracts with private establishments that are willing to pay the necessary rate for zero-emission. Mark decided to add the larger, higher battery capacity GTe14 to his fleet as Wattsway does a lot of airport transfers, particularly in the summer, and luggage space is key. There is also a growing group of corporate clients and, to a lesser extent, private hire customers in South East England that actively require zero-emission coaches.

The maintenance cost for diesel coaches was another factor in Mark’s decision to buy the GTe14. Wattsway’s coaches often run seven days per week, and depot space means that the operator lacks capacity to hold spares.

Mark explains

“I need vehicles that can operate day after day after day. When a diesel has a problem with a VGT valve or regeneration, it makes a problem for us. Experience with the two other electric coaches is that minor mechanical issues that can take a coach out of service for a day or two don’t happen, and that adds to the financial argument.”

Mark believes he will make a saving of around £25,000 per year in fuel and maintenance costs over a like-for-like diesel. The coach will see a full life with Wattsway; the vehicle and the battery warranties provided suit that approach.

We would all like to thank Marks Watts and his company for the continued support shown to Pelican Bus and Coach, this vehicle joins the other Yutongs in the fleet and we are delighted Wattsway have purchased this first vehicle of its kind.