Stagecoach East Midlands has announced the launch of 42 brand-new electric buses onto the streets of Hull, marking a major step forwards for the city’s environmental goals.
Officially launched during an event at the MKM Stadium; the vehicles are equipped with electric parking brakes, hill start assist and electric ‘smart’ mirrors, and emit 50 decibels whilst in operation – a reduction off 22 decibels when compared to a diesel bus at 72.
The new buses have now entered service on the 3, 5 and 12 routes, and will soon be extended to serve the 7, 8, 13, 14 and 15.
Stagecoach has stated that it intends to possess 55 electric buses within the Hull city fleet by mid-2027, and has thus far installed 56 charging points at its Foster Street depot.
With a range of a fully charged electric double-decker sitting at approximately 260 miles, and a single-decker at 300 miles, a typical bus in Hull will travel 135 miles each day – allowing for full day of service without the need to recharge.
Launch of the buses follows a recent 28 million GBP investment from Stagecoach, Hull City Council, East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the Department for Transport to deliver both the new electric buses and the infrastructure to support them.
Matt Cranwell, Managing Director of Stagecoach East Midlands, said:We are so proud to be bringing these wonderful new vehicles to our loyal customers in Hull. Investments like this aim to offer a more reliable and more comfortable service, as well as cleaner air for everyone.
Our ongoing multi-million-pound investment will continue to decarbonise our fleet while bringing state-of-the-art bus travel to our customers. As we invest in a new electric fleet to bring more sustainable public transport, we would encourage everyone to leave their cars at home and give our new buses a go.
