10,000 Emissions-Free Miles in Five Months
The EVM eCityline Delivers Operational Confidence for OTS Bus & Coach.
The Sprinter is a proven product for us, we know it inside-out. We also hold the EVM Cityline in very high regard, with ICE variants serving us very well over the last five years. All those factors made the eCityline an easy choice.
The 10,000 Mile Milestone
In May 2025, OTS Bus & Coach of Falmouth took delivery of an 18-seat EVM eCityline1. After five months of service, it passed its first major milestone, having clocked up 10,000 emissions-free miles.
The successful transition to electric was driven by a need for a specific, modern, and high-performance vehicle:
- Vehicle Requirement: A low floor EV bus with good capacity in a small footprintt.
- Fleet Compatibility: Required a high level of compatibility with OTS’s existing fleet of Mercedes Sprinters.
- Route Suitability: Operating through Falmouth’s pedestrianised town centre made a clear case for an electric vehicle.
The eCityline has built a strong case for further EV investment in future. The engineers love it, the drivers love it, the passengers love it, and of course there are clear advantages for the environment we operate in.
Operational Success & Reliability
The EVM eCityline has proven to be an effective tool, integrating seamlessly into OTS's Service.
- Uptime: The vehicle has been remarkably reliable, with only two days unavailable for use in its time with OTS so far.
- Support: EVM provided extensive help to get the bus back on the road during the one instance of downtime.
- Daily Route: The vehicle clocks up 80 miles a day, including a morning school journey, across a route with a 20-minute frequency.
- Range Performance: The stop-start urban nature of the route suits EV perfectly, often seeing the bus return with 25-30 remaining after 11 hours on the road.
Environmental & Driver Benefits
The eCityline is delivering environmental benefits in the pedestrian area of Falmouth town centre, supported by innovative charging infrastructure:
Clean Charging
The company installed 109 solar panels at their depot, which can store 90 kWh of energy.
Energy Independence
On good-weather days, OTS can completely charge the eCityline with harvested solar energy.
Driver Wellness
Drivers report a positive impact, enjoying the serenity and quiet of the eCityline.
Passenger Experience
Passengers love the quiet operation and the enhancements to the accessibility features.
Funding Note: The investment in the electric vehicle and the depot solar energy project was part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
get in touch
Find us Here
- Unit 1 Wilberforce Way, Southwater
- Horsham RH13 9RT
