Zenobē has been awarded 41.7 million GBP in funding through the second phase of the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB) programme.
This announcement was made by John Swinney, the First Minister of Scotland, during an event in Dunfermline. The funding will support a consortium of operators led by Zenobē, which aims to accelerate the adoption of electric buses across Scotland.
Through this initiative, Zenobē will provide customised financing structures to reduce the upfront and lifetime costs of electric fleet operations. Additionally, Zenobē will deliver key infrastructure and ongoing support to ensure the smooth operation of electric vehicles.
The consortium’s operators include D&E Coaches, Ember, Hairy Haggis, Maynes Coaches, McGills, NHS GGC, Premier Coaches, and Stagecoach.
These operators are working to transition their fleets to zero-emission vehicles. By the end of 2026, more than 250 electric buses will be added to Scotland’s fleet, marking a 40% increase in the nation’s electric buses.
The electrification projects subsidised by the grant will expand upon the 110 electric vehicles already supported by Zenobē in Scotland. This expansion aligns with Zenobē’s commitment to invest 750 million GBP in battery energy storage systems in the region.
The consortium has also pledged to make its new charging infrastructure accessible to third-party fleet operators. This move will create a nationwide rapid-charging network for buses, coaches, and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), enhancing Scotland’s electrified transport connectivity.
Steven Meersman, Founder and Director, Zenobē said:Through our ScotZEB subsidised and Zenobē financed projects, we will support a variety of operators across Scotland to make the switch from diesel to electric. The consortium brings together family-owned coach companies, well-established bus operators, an innovative electric bus start-up and the NHS, showing how private capital can help public funding go the extra mile. Zenobē uses unique financing solutions and operational support to demonstrate how we can accelerate the decarbonisation of transport across the nation, together.
This consortium was formed in line with ScotZEB guidelines. Phase 2 of the programme introduced a new approach where applicants had to pitch cooperatively as part of a consortium, under a lead applicant, rather than as individual operators or local authorities. This strategic shift aims to enhance collaboration and maximise the impact of the funding to roll out a greater number of electric buses.
Pierce Glennie, Co-Founder, Ember said:We’re excited to be part of the winning ScotZEB 2 consortium with Zenobē. The funding will allow Ember to roll out 100 state-of-the-art electric coaches throughout Scotland by 2026 – connecting towns, cities and villages with an affordable zero-emission transport option. The vehicles will operate from a network of ultra-fast charging hubs with 600kW chargers capable of fully charging a coach in under an hour.
This round of funding marked the first time that funding eligibility was expanded to coaches and community transport providers, further driving the nation’s transport electrification.
Kevin Mayne, Operations Director, Maynes Coaches said:We are proud to be one of the first Scottish coach operators making the transition to zero emission coaching. It has been a huge step for us as a family company, but also a great thing for the coach industry as a whole to see the inclusion of coaches in the ScotZEB fund: it shows an understanding of the important role our industry plays in reducing the number of cars on the road. We look forward to working closely with the Scottish Government, our consortium group, and Zenobē, to lead the way in the coach industry’s path to Net Zero.
