People in Portsmouth and across Hampshire will enjoy greener, cleaner journeys as an extra 28 British-made electric buses are rolled out thanks to £11.5 million in Government investment.
The latest investment announced Thursday 2 March means that all commercial routes operating out of the First Bus Hoeford depot in Hampshire will be fully electric, bringing its total electric bus fleet up to 62 buses.
The funding comes from an extra £25.3 million rolled out nationwide to pave the way for the Government’s ambitious rollout of zero emission buses (ZEBs).
The funding is an additional investment from the Zero Emission Buses Regional Area (ZEBRA) scheme, which was launched in 2021 to allow local transport authorities to bid for funding for zero emission buses and supporting infrastructure.
The move brings total Government funding from the ZEBRA scheme to almost £300 million for up to 1,395 zero emission buses in England, taking the vision of a net zero transport network one step closer to reality.
Roads Minister Richard Holden said:
“Buses are the most popular form of public transport, and these new British-built zero emission buses will help clean up the air in communities across Hampshire.
“We’re providing an additional £6.2 million to roll out 28 new electric buses to provide residents across Portsmouth and Hampshire with better, cleaner and quieter journeys, as we step up a gear to reach net zero faster and level up transport across the country.”
Zero-emission buses are also often cheaper to run, improving the economics for bus operators. All these additional buses funded through the ZEBRA scheme are battery electric.
This latest investment will support British manufacturing around the country. The new buses will be manufactured in Northern Ireland by Wrightbus and operated by FirstBus, supporting hundreds of new high-skilled jobs to help level up and grow the economy.
Janette Bell, Managing Director at First Bus said:
“We are delighted to be accelerating investment in the electrification of our bus fleet and infrastructure, supported by co-funding from the Department for Transport. As leaders in sustainable mobility, we are fully aligned with the Government’s ambitions for a net-zero carbon transport system.
“We are rapidly transforming our business with zero emission bus fleets and will continue to work closely with central and local government across the UK to deliver our decarbonisation plans.”
The move is part of the Government’s wider £3 billion National Bus Strategy to significantly improve bus services, with lower and simpler fares, more integrated ticketing and higher frequencies.
Cllr Lynne Stagg, Cabinet Member for Traffic and Transportation at Portsmouth City Council, said:
“It is wonderful to hear that we have been successful in our bid to secure even more zero emission buses for Portsmouth and the surrounding area. We have not been shy in sharing our plans to increase the amount of sustainable travel in this city, and I am delighted we are making good on promises to transform public transport.
“This project demonstrates how working together, Portsmouth City Council, Hampshire County Council and First Bus can deliver change to improve the quality of bus services and vehicles to benefit our communities”.
