First Bus has announced an investment of 70 million GBP in 160 zero-emission buses for operation in the West of England, bringing its local zero-emission fleet to more than 250 vehicles.
A further 20 million GBP has also been secured through the latest round of the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) funding.
The introduction of the new buses, which are set for operation within Bristol and Bath, follows the electrification of both the company’s Weston Island and Lawrence Hill depots, with further plans to electrify four of its five regional depots by 2026.
Janette Bell, Managing Director for First Bus, said:We’ve reached a significant milestone today as we invest further in our journey towards a zero-emission bus fleet. We’re thrilled that our people and customers in the West of England will benefit from government co-funding for these transformative projects. It’s been a tremendous joint effort from us and our combined authority partners to get here and we cannot wait to get these vehicles out into service.
We already have over 1000 zero-emission buses on the road serving our customers and this latest investment is another exciting step forward. I am delighted for our colleagues across the region as we continue our transformation of the fleet and the depots, and our customers who get to enjoy the benefits, from improved air quality to a smoother, quieter ride.
We’re proud to continue to lead the way in sustainable mobility, and work with central and local governments across the UK to strive to meet our national decarbonisation commitments. With each milestone we’re one step closer to becoming a nation who loves and uses the bus.
