The BCI Citirider is an integrally-constructed high capacity low-floor and low-entrysingle deck and double-decker bus produced by BCI Bus since 2015. It is produced at BCI Bus' manufacturing facility in Xiamen, China. The double-decker bus, imported by bus dealer Ensignbus, is marketed as both the BCI Excellence and BCI Enterprise in the United Kingdom.
Launched in 2015 initially for the Australasian bus and coach market, the BCI Citirider single-deck bus was designed as a low-entrycity bus suitable for both public bus and school bus operations. Assembled on an Alcoa aluminium frame, The front and rear fascias of the bus are made from fibreglass, while the side panels are all aluminium with bolts for ease of maintenance and replacement.[1] BCI Citiriders also have a choice of a glass or aluminium roof.[clarification needed] In 2016, a low-floordouble-decker variant of the Citirider, available on either a twin-axle or tri-axle chassis, was launched.[2]
The BCI Enterprise was launched in the United Kingdom by Purfleet bus dealer and importer Ensignbus in July 2016.[3] Built as standard with air conditioning, the Enterprise seats 98 passengers and differs by having a redesigned front fascia and a curved staircase as opposed to the Citirider's straight staircase.[4][5] A twin-axle variant, marketed as the BCI Excellence, was launched by Ensignbus shortly afterwards.[6]
A battery-electric single-deck variant, known as the Citirider E, was launched at the BusVic 2019 conference in Sydney in October 2019, developed in close partnership with Dutch electric bus manufacturer Ebusco. Capable of a range of up to 350 kilometres (220mi) on a single charge and featuring 12 battery packs capable of 400 kWh of battery stroage, the Citirider E also featured a restyled exterior and interior with a maximum carrying capacity of 45 seated and 20 standing passengers.[7]
Operators
Australasia
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In New Zealand, Ritchies Transport operates 43 single deckers and 26 double decker BCI Citiriders,[10]Kinetic Group operation NZ Bus operates 14 double decker Citiriders,[11] and Tranzit Group operation Tranzurban operates 55 single deckers and 47 double decker Citiriders.[12] In 2021, Tranzurban converted a BCI double decker from diesel to electric power with a range of up to 230km (140mi) for use in Wellington, briefly being trialled in the capital Auckland during July 2022.[13]
Importers Ensignbus were the first operator of the BCI Enterprise in the United Kingdom, taking delivery of four examples in August 2016. Aintree Coachline additionally took delivery of the fifth Enterprise.[4] Ensignbus later took delivery of ten twin-axle Excellences in 2016.[6]
A BCI Enterprise built to Transport for London specification with a Vantage Power hybrid drive was trialled by Go-Ahead London on route 12 during 2018. Operating as a spare vehicle from River Road garage in East London, the interior of the BCI Enterprise 2HD had a 130-passenger carrying capacity, air conditioning as standard and additionally featured USB chargers and mobile phone holders in the backs of every high-backed seat.[14][15]
Other markets
Four BCI Citirider double-deckers, alongside one MAN double-decker, were delivered to PT Transportasi Jakarta for use on Transjakarta sightseeing services in July 2015.[16]
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