The UK government has announced a £3 million investment in purchasing 18 new electric buses for Leicester.
With this newest round of funding, the government has spent £22 million on the city’s fleet through the Zero Emission Buses Regional Areas (Zebra) scheme, bringing the total number of zero-emissions buses to 114.
All will be built in Northern Ireland by Wrightbus and controlled by First Bus.
Buses as the “backbone of transportation“
As a result, Leicester will become one of only four cities in the United Kingdom to operate an entirely electric bus fleet, joining London, Norwich, and York, whose transition to electric buses was announced earlier this month.
By March of 2024, First Bus intends to have added 600 electric buses to its fleet, of which 117 will be dispersed across Bramley, York, Hoeford (Hampshire), and Norwich. It will contribute 42% of the overall cost for these non-Leicester depots, while it will pay 58%.
“Through this co-funding with the Zebra scheme, we’re excited to electrify another five of our UK depots before March 2024.”
First Bus managing director Janette Bell
In addition, Roads Minister Richard Holden also commented on Leicester’s new business strategy.
“Buses are the backbone of our transport network, providing affordable travel for commuters, families and pensioners and providing an economic lifeline for towns and cities around the country.”
Roads Minister Richard Holden
Bus Centre of Excellence project
Holden also announced the establishment of the Bus Centre of Excellence, an initiative to enhance the industry’s diversity and skills.
AUTOCAR reports that the initiative intends to generate networking events for the bus industry and encourage more frequent use of buses by the general public. These events will be held by the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) and supported by a government grant of £815,000.
“This partnership, alongside other government initiatives, will see CIHT help to bring together a wide range of professional skills and knowledge from both the public and private sector to facilitate change to local infrastructure, service delivery and the sector across the country, with the ultimate aim of improving bus services.”
CIHT president Neil Johnstone
With these new investments, the total amount that the government has spent since the pandemic has reached two billion dollars. It is anticipated that the performance of bus services will be improved by an additional one billion pounds.
See Also:
- Transport operator Unibuss orders 76 MAN electric buses for Norway’s green capital
- BYD awarded 64-unit electric bus order from operator Nobina in Norway
- Nordic’s biggest bus company Nobina orders 64 electric buses from BYD
- Tata Motors bags 921 electric buses order for Bengaluru
- BYD delivered 1000th Electric Bus to ADL, UK
