Alexander Dennis Enviro500

Alexander Dennis Enviro500
SMRT Alexander Dennis Enviro500
SMRT Alexander Dennis Enviro500
Manufacturer Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL)
Bodywork Enviro500 MMC
Years in operation 2014 – Present
Operators SMRT Buses
Tower Transit
Technical Data
Length 12 metre
Engine Cummins ISL8.9E5 340B
Transmission ZF EcoLife 6 AP 1700 B
Accessibility Low Floor & Wheelchair-accessible
Emission Standard Euro V (SCR)

The Enviro500 is a low-floor, three-axle double-decker transit bus built by Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL), and part of the Enviro series of buses. First produced in 2002, they are hugely successful in the Hong Kong market, with other units operating in Europe, North America and Australia.

SMRT Buses was the first operator of the Enviro500 in Singapore, with an initial order of 201 Enviro500 MMC buses entering service in 2014-2015. With the gradual implementation of the Bus Contracting Model (BCM), Enviro500 buses owned by the Government were also operated by Tower Transit, who was awarded the Bulim Bus Package & Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package.

The second batch of 15 buses with near-identical specifications were brought in under Bus Contracting Model (BCM) in August 2017, equipped with USB Charging Ports.

A third batch of 50 buses, equipped with three doors and two staircases were procured in 2019.

Background:

The Enviro500 is part of the Enviro series of Dennis low-floor buses which was launched in 2002.

In 2012, Alexander Dennis revealed the third-generation Enviro500 aimed at the Hong Kong market. Named the Enviro500 MMC (for Major Model Change), it boasts a new exterior styling adapted from the Enviro400, along with an all-new interior. The new chassis features improved maintainability, reliability and reduced operating costs. New design features included offsetting the longitudinally-mounted engine and gearbox, along with a safer straight staircase and fuel tank underneath the stairs, a design feature adapted from the Enviro400. The chassis was was offered in 11.3m, 12.0m and 12.8m lengths. A rear-axle steering system is also made available, supplied by ZF (Servocom® RAS).

The Enviro500 MMC is also known as the Enviro500NG (for New Generation), Trident E500 Turbo, or simply E50D (with ‘D’ indicating diesel) or E50H (with ‘H’ for hybrid). The Hybrid variant was made available in 2013, incorporating a series hybrid drive-train by BAE Systems (HybriDrive series-E), achieving the Euro VI emission standard.


Production Batch 1 — ADL Enviro500 MMC — SMB5001A–SMB5085H & SMB3501L–SMB3616P

SMRT’s New Double-Deck Buses

In April 2014, SMRT Buses announced the purchase of 201 units of the 12-metre Alexander Dennis Enviro500 MMC buses, as part of a fleet renewal and expansion initiative. These would be SMRT’s first ever batch of double-decker buses.

The first prototype bus was produced by Alexander Dennis in Scotland, while the remaining 200 units were assembled in Zhuhai, China, and shipped to Singapore completely built up (CBU). The deal is said to be worth around £50 million.

The Alexander Dennis Enviro500 buses were registered between 19 June 2014 to 1 December 2015, using the registration numbers SMB5001A – SMB5085H for SMRT-owned buses (85 units) and SMB3501L – SMB3616P for Land Transport Authority-owned buses (116 units). SMRT was also rumoured to have placed options on another batch of Enviro500 MMCs but have decided to forgo these.

Basic Technical Specifications
Engine Cummins ISL8.9E5 340B engine
Inline 6-cylinder turbocharged, 8849cc
Power/Torque rating of 340 hp (250 kW) @ 2100 rpm / 1500 Nm @ 1200 – 1400 rpm
Emission Standard Euro V compliant
Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology requiring diesel exhaust fluids such as AdBlue, and achieving the Euro V emission standard.
Transmission ZF EcoLife 6AP 1700B gearbox, six-speed automatic
with TopoDyn Life control software system
Bodywork Enviro500 MMC Bodywork
Chassis produced in Pasir Gudang. Assembled in Zhuhai, China, and shipped completely-built-up (CBU) to Singapore.
EDS Mobitec MobiLED Electronic Display Signage (EDS)
Connected to a Mobitec MobiMASTER ICU 602 controller
Doors Ventura System doors
Double-leaf entrance, sliding plug exit. Similar brand first used in SMB138Y.
Capacity Licensed capacity of 134 passengers:
55 upper deck seating, 28 lower deck seating and 51 standing with one wheelchair bay.
Foldable seat for one person integrated with wheelchair backrest

Local Enviro500 buses had their chassis built in Johor Bahru, Malaysia and assembled with the Enviro500 MMC bodywork in Zhuhai, China before being shipped completely-built-up (i.e. as a completed bus) to Singapore. More details in the Bus Production section below.

The UK-built prototype bus is SMB5001A, with its chassis produced in Guildford and assembled by Alexander Dennis in Scotland. SMB5002Y, the first SMRT Enviro500 from the Zhuhai bus assembly plant, was built on a UK-manufactured chassis and is a bodywork prototype unit. The 11th digit of the vehicle identification number (VIN) identifies SMB5001A and SMB5002Y as “G” for Guildford, while other production batch units feature “M” for Malaysia.

One week before their debut, a preview event was organized for Bukit Panjang grassroots leaders who took a tour around the Bukit Panjang estate and were introduced to the buses’ wheelchair-friendly features and safety mechanisms.

SMRT Alexander Dennis Enviro500 (SMB3502J) – First revenue service trip on Service 972.
SMRT Alexander Dennis Enviro500 (SMB3502J) – First revenue service trip on Service 972.

These buses made their revenue service debut on Sunday, 13 July 2014 on Service 972. Three units, namely SMB3501L (972TQ01), SMB3502J (972AP07) and SMB3503G (972TQ02) were put on service. SMB3502J is the first Enviro500 MMC in revenue service, departing Bukit Panjang Temporary Bus Park at around 7:00 am. On its second morning trip, SMB3502J was taken out of service at Whitley Road (Aft Tanglin CC) due to a door interlock fault causing the brakes to be engaged; ADL maintenance crew resolved the issue and the bus returned to the depot, and the bus returned to Service 972 in the late afternoon.

Many more bus services would receive double-deck buses progressively over the subsequent 3 months, such as 106, 188, 190, 700, 850E, 951E, 963, 966 and 969.

Double-decker bus rollout: Dates and Services (Click to expand)
Debut Service Registration (SMBxxxx) Remarks
13 Jul 2014 972 3501L 3502J 3503G AP07 TQ01 TQ02
18 Aug 2014 106 3507X 3508T 3509R S190 S191 S192
190 3504D 3505B 3506Z AP90 S190 S191
850E 3511H 3512E S192 S193
966 3513C 3514A 3515Y AP90 S192 S193
969 3510K 3511H* 3512E* 969S190
850ES192* 850ES193*
15 Sep 2014 188 3522B 3523Z AP90 S190
700 3505B 3508T 3529H AP90 AP91 Unknown
951E 3524X 3525T S192 S193
963 3520G 3521D 3524X* 3526R 3531A AP90 S190 S191 951ES192*
01 Oct 2014 169 3524X* 951ES913 (963 crossover)
28 Oct 2014 963E 5005P 963S157 (963 Crossover)
17 Nov 2014 61 3546H 61S190
176 3552P 5014S 176S190, Unknown
965 3530C 3531A 965AP90, 965S190
12 Jan 2015 187 3559X 187AP90
964 3556D 964AP90
15 Feb 2015 67 3534S 3557B
16 Feb 2015 960 3554J 3555G 3556D 5027B 5031M 960AP90, 960AP91, 960AP92, Unknown
25 Apr 2015 983 3509R 3580H 5040L* * Special Run
26 Apr 2015 857 3550U 3581E
18 May 2015 856 3547E
15 Jun 2015 961 3581E 961AP07
13 Jul 2015 985 3591B 3592Z 3593X 985AP91, 985AP92, 985AP93
14 Jul 2015 172 5056S 172S107
11 Aug 2015 868 5054Y 5065R 868AM01, 868S101
16 Aug 2015 854 3605X
24 Aug 2015 171 5059J*

Recalled by OCC due to accidental deployment of Double Decker on non-approved service

969S151 (Crossover from 969)
05 Oct 2015 975 3534S 3569S Downroute Special Departures only; Crosses over from Service 972
12 Oct 2015 981 3608M 3609K 981S190, 981S191
26 Oct 2015 189 3517S 3518P 3522B 3582C
29 Oct 2015 911E 5068H*

Accidental deployment of Double Decker on non-approved service.

960S105 (Crossover from 960)
28 Dec 2015 979 3535P 3563H 979S101, 979S102
08 Jan 2016 858 5034E* Special midway departure towards Woodlands
09 Jan 2016 MRT Shuttle 5020U Kranji – Sembawang
12 Jan 2016 180 5037Y Crossover from Service 190
03 Mar 2016 302 5054Y

Accidental deployment of Double Decker on non-approved service.

67PM53 (Crossover from 67)
12 Jan 2017 860  3607R, 5044B, 5060D, 5074P

Updated till Jan 2017

For interior photos, check out Alexander Dennis Enviro500 (Batch 2).


Transition to Bus Contracting Model (BCM)

As part of the Transitioning of Buses to the Bus Contracting Model, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) would purchase bus assets from both SBS Transit and SMRT Buses and reallocate them to various route packages and their winning operators. In the early years of the BCM rollout, bus models involved were SBS Transit’s Mercedes-Benz Citaro and Volvo B9TL buses, as well as SMRT’s MAN A22, MAN A95 and Alexander Dennis Enviro500 buses.

In December 2016, several uses were transferred to the Bulim Bus Package and operated by Tower Transit, making them the second local operator to operate the ADL Enviro500.

More ADL Enviro500 buses were transferred to Tower Transit as part of the Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package.


Production Batch 2 — ADL Enviro500 MMC — SG5700T – SG5714D

Main article: Alexander Dennis Enviro500 (Batch 2)

SMRT placed orders for fifteen (15) more ADL Enviro500 MMC buses in late 2016. These buses would subsequently be registered under the Bus Contracting Model (BCM) with the SG-prefix registration plates. All buses were registered on 10 August 2017 as SG5700T – SG5714D.

The second batch of Enviro500 MMC buses feature the same technical specifications as the initial 201 buses delivered in 2014. Although ADL had launched a Facelifted Enviro500 MMC in late 2015, the newer bodywork design was not opted for.

Basic Technical Specifications
Engine Cummins ISL8.9E5 340B engine
Inline 6-cylinder turbocharged, 8849cc
Power/Torque rating of 340 hp (250 kW) @ 2100 rpm / 1500 Nm @ 1200 – 1400 rpm
Emission Standard Euro V compliant
Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology requiring diesel exhaust fluids such as AdBlue, and achieving the Euro V emission standard.
Transmission ZF EcoLife 6AP 1700B gearbox, six-speed automatic
with TopoDyn Life control software system
Bodywork Enviro500 MMC Bodywork
Chassis produced in Pasir Gudang. Assembled in Zhuhai, China, and shipped completely-built-up (CBU) to Singapore.
EDS Mobitec MobiLED Electronic Display Signage (EDS)
Connected to a Mobitec MobiMASTER ICU 602 controller
Doors Ventura System doors
Double-leaf entrance, sliding plug exit. Similar brand first used in SMB138Y.
Capacity Licensed capacity of 134 passengers:
55 upper deck seating, 28 lower deck seating and 51 standing with one wheelchair bay.
Foldable seat for one person integrated with wheelchair backrest
Additional Features USB Charging Ports
More emergency glass hammers

They come equipped with USB Charging Ports, tinted passenger windows, and a pair of emergency hammers next to the upper deck front windscreen, a feature common to Enviro500 buses built for the Hong Kong market. These buses were stored at Kim Soon Lee since April 2017, prior to their registration in July 2017.

The first of these buses made their revenue service debut on 14 August 2017, with SG5703K deployed on Bus Service 964.

In September / October 2021, several buses were transferred from SMRT Buses to Tower Transit as part of the Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package.


13.0-metre Mock-up Bus

Main Article: Alexander Dennis Enviro500 Mock-up Bus
Alexander Dennis Enviro500 Mock-up Bus
Alexander Dennis Enviro500 Mock-up Bus

An Alexander Dennis Enviro500 Mock-up Bus, decorated in Lush Green, made its debut appearance at the Land Transport Authority (LTA)’s Our Bus Journey Carnival at Ngee Ann City. The bus is one of two concept buses commissioned by LTA to provide the public with a glimpse of how buses would look like in the future, the other being a MAN Lion’s City DD L.

The concept bus features three doors and two staircases, with new features such as seats with headrests, USB charging ports, and stylish interior mood lighting. In 2018, the bus underwent air-conditioning upgrading work for permanent display.


Alexander Dennis Enviro500 (3-Door)

On 25 April 2019, Alexander Dennis (Singapore) Services Pte Ltd and ST Engineering Land Systems Ltd was awarded Contract PT342 – Procurement of 3-Door Euro 6 Double Deck Diesel Buses, where each successful tenderer would deliver 50 Three-Door Euro 6 Diesel Double Decker Buses which will enter revenue service from 2020. The 50 buses would be registered as SG6333M – SG6382X


Additional Specifications

ADL Enviro500 MMC (Double-deck)
Batch Quantity Registration Engine Gearbox Introduced Retired Bodywork
Batch 1 116 SMB3501L – SMB3616P (BSEP) Cummins ISL8.9E5 340B
(Euro V)
ZF EcoLife 6AP 1700B 2014-2015 Enviro500 MMC
85 SMB5001A- SMB5085H Enviro500 MMC
Batch 2 15 SG5700T – SG5714D 2017 Enviro500 MMC
3-Door 50 SG6333M – SG6382X Mercedes-Benz OM 936
(Euro 6)
Voith DIWA 864.6 2021 Enviro500 MMC Facelift

Early Retirements:

  • SMB5012T was involved in an accident around 2021 in which most of its upper deck nearside supporting pillars were detached. It was subsequently scrapped and de-registered on 19 September 2022.

 


Bus Production

Chassis assembly:

Apart from building chassis in Guildford, England, Alexander Dennis Limited manufactures its chassis in Johor Bahru, Malaysia through a partnership with Terberg Tractors Malaysia Sdn Bhd (TTM) (formerly Sime Darby TMA Sdn Bhd), a subsidiary of Sime Darby Industrial. It supplies the Asia-Pacific region with various types of ADL chassis, most of which are shipped to its main assembly plant in Zhuhai, China.

Its manufacturing plant, Terberg Manufacturing & Assembly Sdn Bhd, is located in the Pasir Gudang industrial estate, roughly 20 kilometres east of the Johor Bahru city centre.

Bodywork assembly:

Except for SMB5001A, all Enviro500 buses in Singapore are assembled in Zhuhai City (Guangdong Province, China) by Zhuhai Granton Bus And Coach Co., Ltd. (珠海市廣通汽車有限公司) [Link]. The company has been assembling Dennis buses for Kowloon Motor Bus since 2005, and has officially been in partnership with Alexander Dennis Ltd since 2011, supplying the region with Dennis buses. Excluding a small handful of UK-built units, Enviro500 MMCs for the Hong Kong market are assembled by Zhuhai Granton.

Due to the complexity of the SMRT livery, buses from Zhuhai (with the exception of the first few units) were delivered solely with the silver base coat. The additional red, black and yellow decals were fixed in Singapore by SMRT Buses and/or other companies as tendered out by SMRT. The complexity of the livery (given the ‘pixel’ design) added to the complexity of the painting process.


Gallery:


History:

The Enviro500 is part of the Enviro series of Dennis low-floor buses which was launched in 2002. The original Enviro500 was produced by Dennis (then known as TransBus International) modified from a Dennis Trident 3 (hence the original name Trident E500).

In late 2003, a face-lifted version was offered; the second-generation Enviro500 (or Enviro500 MkII), featuring both modified chassis and bodywork. The Enviro bodywork was also compatible with the Volvo B9TL chassis, and Kowloon Motor Bus of Hong Kong acquired over 80 such vehicles. From May 2004, when Transbus International was reorganized into Alexander Dennis Limited, or ADL (while absorbing Walter Alexander Coachbuilders and Dennis Specialist Vehicles), future Enviro500s would be marketed under ADL.

Originally offered with the Euro III Cummins ISMe335 (also from the Trident 3), the more environmentally-friendly Cummins ISLe340 option was available in Euro IV and Euro V ratings, relying on Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology to reduce emissions. Voith or ZF transmissions with SensoTop or TopoDyn fuel-saving features are offered for the Euro V rating. A hybrid electric version (Enviro500H) is also offered, using GM-Allison’s parallel hybrid drive system.

In 2012, Alexander Dennis revealed the third-generation Enviro500 aimed at the Hong Kong market. Named the Enviro500 MMC (for Major Model Change), it boasts a new exterior styling adapted from the Enviro400, along with an all-new interior. The new chassis features improved maintainability, reliability and reduced operating costs. New design features included offsetting the longitudinally-mounted engine and gearbox, along with a safer straight staircase and fuel tank underneath the stairs, a design feature adapted from the Enviro400. The chassis was offered in 11.3m, 12.0m and 12.8m lengths. A rear-axle steering system is also made available, supplied by ZF (Servocom® RAS).

The Enviro500 MMC is also known as the Enviro500NG (for New Generation), Trident E500 Turbo, or simply E50D (with ‘D’ indicating diesel) or E50H (with ‘H’ for hybrid). The Hybrid variant was made available in 2013, incorporating a series hybrid drive-train by BAE Systems (HybriDrive series-E), achieving the Euro VI emission standard.


See Also:
External Links & References:

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2 thoughts on “Alexander Dennis Enviro500

  • 22 December 2019 at 2:10 PM
    Permalink

    In future, I think SBST will operate the Euro 5 ADL E500MMC after the winner of Sembawang-Yishun Bus Package next year 2020 of.

    Reply
    • 16 November 2020 at 8:10 AM
      Permalink

      Tower got the package, therefore they’ll have more E500MMC~~

      Reply

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