Stagecoach goes for all-electric bus fleets in Perth & Inverness
UK public transport operator Stagecoach has announced plans to introduce the UK’s first all-electric city bus fleets in two Scottish cities in late 2022 and 2023, respectively. The company is investing over 14 million euros in this endeavour.
The all-electric fleets will be made up of 38 electric buses for the cities of Inverness and Perth, which will be subsidised by the Scottish government through the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB).
In Inverness, Stagecoach plans to launch 25 new electric midibuses on routes 1-9 in late 2022, which will replace the city’s diesel bus fleet.
The new electric buses in Perth, which will be introduced in early 2023, are seven solo buses, five midibuses and one double-decker. The new buses will join the existing fleet of nine Enviro200EV electric buses from BYD-ADL introduced in the city at the end of last year. Stagecoach has not yet revealed the model or make of the buses to be purchased for Inverness or Perth in this round. The investment sum of 13.9 million pounds (16.5 million euros) is divided into 4.8 million pounds for the 13 electric buses for Perth and 9.1 million pounds for the 25 electric midi-buses for Inverness.
New electric buses are also due to be launched on Stagecoach networks in other areas of Scotland in the coming months, including Aberdeen, Ayr, Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy and Kilmarnock. Stagecoach aims to operate a net-zero bus fleet in the UK by 2035.
Scotland is aiming to achieve net zero emissions by 2045. “I’m pleased that Scottish Government investment continues to rapidly transform bus fleets across the country,” says Scottish Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth. “This latest announcement from Stagecoach is welcome and is fantastic news for everyone who lives in, works and visits Inverness and Perth. Not only will these new buses help reduce transport emissions and respond to the climate emergency, they will improve local air quality too.”
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