Transport group Go-Ahead is launching the first fully electric bus fleet in its North East heartland.
The new fleet of electric buses on its Go North East services will provide 55,000 journeys a year to nearly two million passengers in the region. Nine new electric buses will come into service from today and will cover 300,000 miles across Newcastle and Gateshead each year.
Last year, Newcastle-based Go-Ahead introduced air filtering buses into Southampton and it also runs more than 50 “geo-fenced”, extended range, double deckers in Brighton, which switch to zero-emissions in the city’s Ultra Low Emissions Zone.
It is also in talks regarding what could be Europe’s largest ever order of hydrogen buses for use in Crawley and Gatwick.
David Brown, Go-Ahead’s chief executive, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has put an incredible strain on the country, the economy and public transport but tackling climate change remains as important as ever.
“The bus will be vital to getting Britain back on its feet, to bringing down emissions and tackling air pollution.
“Our investment in electric buses in the North East of England and our wider work in decarbonising our fleet signals our commitment to working with the Government to deliver their pledge to decarbonise transport and clean up the air that we breathe.”
Go North East will charge the buses overnight at its Gateshead Riverside depot. The buses are the result of a £2m investment with top-up funding from the Government’s Ultra-Low Emission Bus Fund.
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The buses also offer free WiFi and wireless and USB charging, and bring Go-Ahead’s electric bus fleet in the 海角视频 to 190.
The company has been praised by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, who said: “As we look to decarbonise transport while levelling up local economies across the North East, I’m delighted to see key industry partners actively supporting our ambitions to end the 海角视频’s contribution to climate change by 2050.
“Just last week the Prime Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to invest £5bn in buses, cycling and walking. And that’s not all – we’re also investing £120m to begin the introduction of at least 4,000 zero emission buses, accelerating the decarbonisation of the bus fleet, reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality for all.”