More than 70 electric buses - along with the charging infrastructure to support them - will be rolled out across the West of England, the region's metro mayor has announced.
The West of England Combined Authority (Weca) has secured £6.6m in partnership with First Bus for 74 electric vehicles (67 double-deckers, and seven single-deckers) by the end of 2025. The funding from Weca is being matched by a £37m investment from First Bus to deliver the proposals.
The regional authority won the cash after a successful bid to the Department for Transport's Zero Emission Buses Regional Area (ZEBRA) fund which covers up to 75% of the cost difference between the zero emission vehicles and a standard diesel engine bus.
The 74 buses will replace the number eight (to Temple Meads), 24 (to Southmead Hospital), 70 (to Hengrove) 72 (to Frenchay), 73 (to Bradley Stoke), 75 and 76 (to Cribbs Causeway)
The cash will also be used to fully electrify First Bus’s Hengrove depot, including installing the power charging and infrastructure to handle the introduction of zero-emission buses.
Mr Norris said: "Cutting-edge, zero-emission buses will help attract more passengers onto the region’s buses and cut carbon. Transport on our roads makes up around 40% of all our carbon emissions; we have to hurry and move from petrol and diesel to cleaner solutions. These new buses will help us follow our green plan to decarbonise our transport network."
Doug Claringbold, First West of England managing director, added: “This is a real landmark moment for the West of England, as we secure our first electric buses in the region, demonstrating our ongoing commitment towards a zero-emissions bus fleet by 2035."
Under the Bus Service Improvement Plan, Weca has pledged for all the region’s buses to be zero emission by the end of 2035.
Like this story? Why not sign up to get the latest South West business news straight to your inbox.
