Leicester ditches diesel buses in £22m EV shift

The UK authorities has announced that it volition put £3 cardinal to acquisition 18 caller electrical buses for Leicester.

This latest circular of backing brings the government's spending on the city's fleet through the Zero Emission Buses Regional Areas (Zebra) strategy to £22 million and its full fig of zero-emissions buses to 114.

All volition beryllium manufactured by Wrightbus successful Northern Ireland and operated by First Bus.

This volition marque Leicester 1 of conscionable 4 UK cities to run an all-electric autobus fleet, joining London, Norwich and York, whose power was announced earlier this month.

First Bus plans to person added 600 electrical buses to its fleet by March 2024, with 117 of these being dispersed crossed Bramley and York, Hoeford (Hampshire), and Norwich. It volition wage 58% of the full outgo for these non-Leicester depots, with Zebra contributing the remainder.

“Through this co-funding with the Zebra scheme, we’re excited to electrify different five of our UK depots earlier March 2024,” said First Bus managing manager Janette Bell.

Roads Minister Richard Holden added: “Buses are the backbone of our transport network, providing affordable question for commuters, families and pensioners and providing an economical lifeline for towns and cities astir the country.”

Holden besides announced the instauration of the Bus Centre of Excellence, an inaugural planned to amended diverseness and skills successful the sector. Backed by an £815,000 authorities assistance and hosted by the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT), it volition besides make networking events for the autobus manufacture and promote the nationalist to usage buses much often.

CIHT president Neil Johnstone said: “This partnership, alongside different authorities initiatives, will spot CIHT assistance to bring unneurotic a wide scope of nonrecreational skills and cognition from some the nationalist and backstage assemblage to facilitate alteration to section infrastructure, work transportation and the assemblage crossed the country, with the eventual purpose of improving autobus services.”