First Bus and West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) have announced a 11.2 million GBP investment into the operator’s Bramley depot, aiming to convert half of its fleet to zero emission vehicles by the end of 2024.
The investment has been made possible by a 3.4 million GBP ‘variation request’ from the Department for Transport (DfT) Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) programme.
“These state-of-the-art electric buses will help West Yorkshire towards its goal of becoming a net zero economy by 2038, as well as encouraging more people to use public transport.
“We are constantly working to introduce more zero-emission buses to the region’s fleet – boosting air quality, improving public transport and helping tackle the climate emergency.
“This investment will help us build a greener and better-connected West Yorkshire.”
Pledging 7.8 million GBP, First Bus will introduce 22 double-decker electric buses to the depot, bringing its total electric fleet size to 79 and solidifying Bramley as home to the largest fleet of zero emission buses in West Yorkshire.
Delivery of the 22 double-decker buses is expected to completed in July 2024.
Bromley’s current fleet of 57 Wrightbus electric buses includes 32 single-decker GB Kite Electroliners and 25 StreetDeck Electroliner double-deckers, all of which entered operation this past March.
