Thursday, November 7, 2024
Electric VehiclesLatestNews

Electric bus fleets take off in Aberdeen and Coventry

First Bus is investing £12.7 million into the city of Aberdeen with a new fleet of 36 electric buses at the same time that Coventry has announced a further 64 buses.

In Aberdeen, the new fleet consists of 24 WrightBus double deckers and 12 repowers, which are internal combustion engine buses converted to electric buses.

First Bus has partnered with Robert Gordon University to announce the investment, recognising that the university’s students will be the primary beneficiaries of the new buses.

It comes as Coventry City Council’s target to be the UK’s first all-electric bus fleet by 2025 has received a boost with another 64 buses are being rolled out across the city by Stagecoach.

The latest decision is part of Coventry’s Electric £140m project that reinforces Stagecoach’s commitment to run zero-emission buses on all its services which link Coventry to surrounding areas in Warwickshire.

This major advance means that more than 200 buses, 80% of all those operating within and travelling into the city, will now be electric battery powered.

Thirty-one double decker buses have been built by British manufacturer Alexander Dennis, with 33 single-deckers from Pelican Yutong.

Duncan Cameron, Managing Director at First Bus Scotland, said:

“This £12.7 million investment in new electric buses is a game-changer for Aberdeen. It not only aligns with our green ambitions but also underscores our commitment to providing more sustainable and comfortable transportation options for the city.

Bill Sommerville, Director of Estates and Property Services, Robert Gordon University (RGU), said: 

“We take great pride in our nature positive campus and actively encourage sustainable travel to improve our efforts in meeting our collective net zero targets. This includes not only encouraging the use of public transport for both commuting and business purposes but also encouraging the use of our own EV fleet where this is not possible.”

Jean-Marc Gales, CEO at WrightBus, said: 

“Our zero-emission buses have gained a global following, with exports to Asia, Australia and Europe, and this investment by First Bus demonstrates their continued commitment to sustainable transport solutions.”

Cllr George Duggins, Leader of Coventry City Council, said:

“Once the project is complete, Coventry residents will benefit from much cleaner air, with the obvious benefits of better health for young and old alike while the city will be served by some of the most modern buses in the UK.”

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA chair, said: 

“This combined investment by Stagecoach and the public sector is going to make a huge difference to people’s journeys in and around Coventry. It not only means that people, including cyclists and pedestrians, are breathing cleaner air but bus passengers are travelling in comfort in brand new vehicles making it a more attractive, affordable and greener way to get around the city.”

Mark Whitelocks, Stagecoach Midlands Managing Director said:

“This investment demonstrates Stagecoach’s confidence in the region and is evidence of us delivering our ambitions to transform bus services for the communities we serve.

“These buses mark a massive moment for the region as we take a huge step towards modernising our services as we provide customers with more comfortable journeys on these state-of-the-art buses as well as contributing to making cleaner, quieter neighbourhoods and a public transport that is more sustainable and efficient.”

Image of Duncan Cameron, First Bus, Bill Sommerville, Robert Gordon University and students.

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