First Bus
#FirstBus places one of the UK’s largest ever electric bus orders
In a move that signals a major shift towards electrification of the UK’s bus fleet,First Bus has placed an order for 300 electric buses with Chinese manufacturer BYD. The deal, which is worth £200 million, is the largest ever single order for electric buses in the UK and will see the vehicles deployed across First’s bus networks in Scotland and England.
The order is part of First Bus’s commitment to reduce its emissions by 30% by 2030 as well as its aim to have all of its buses be zero emission by 2035. The switch to electric vehicles will also help First Bus save on fuel costs, with the company estimating that it will save £1 million per year in fuel costs once the buses are in operation.
First Bus isn’t the only company making a move towards electric buses; earlier this year, National Express announced an order for 50 electric buses from BYD, and Arriva UK placed an order for 20 electric buses from VDL. With First Bus’s latest order, a total of 370 new electric buses will be hitting the streets of UK towns and cities over the next few years.
The growing interest in electric buses is being fuelled by a number of factors, including air quality concerns and government incentives. Electric buses produce zero emissions at the point of use, which helps to address concerns about air pollution, and they are also significantly quieter than diesel-powered vehicles. The UK government has also introduced a number of financial incentives to encourage operators to switch to cleaner vehicles, including a grant scheme that offers up to £350,000 per vehicle towards the cost of an electric bus.
The growing interest in electric buses is being fuelled by a number of factors, including air quality concerns and government incentives. Electric buses produce zero emissions at the point of use, which helps to address concerns about air pollution, and they are also significantly quieter than diesel-powered vehicles. With First Bus’s latest order, a total of 370 new electric buses will be hitting the streets of UK towns and cities over the next few years.
