- £37.8 million worth of investment from the UK government is set to help deliver a further 319 zero-emission buses to England’s public transport network.
- In addition, every £1 of this government investment will be matched with at least £3 of investment from the private sector.
- These new buses are set to be rolled out across various regions by Spring 2027 at the latest.
The UK drives its electric bus transition further
This funding comes in addition to the England-based ZEBRA 2 zero-emission bus funding programme, which has already helped deliver 995 zero-emission buses to England’s streets. 12 local transport authorities from across England will benefit from this new investment, with the West of England Combined Authority taking the largest £19.89m sum out of the £37.8m investment. This will help deliver 160 electric buses to the region, thus enabling another 22 bus routes across Bristol to switch to zero-emission buses.
How has the industry reacted?
Local Transport Minister, Simon Lightwood, commented on the new investment:
“I’m thrilled to announce this £38 million investment, which will deliver 319 new zero-emission buses to communities across England by 2027. This funding will not only make bus travel cleaner, greener, and more comfortable, but it will deliver on our Plan for Change; creating jobs, supporting local economies, and accelerating our journey towards a zero-emission future.
By backing local councils and UK manufacturers, we are putting the power in the hands of communities, while helping to deliver on our vision of a sustainable, green transport network.
From Hull to Hove, there’s an electrifying future on the way for our buses.”
Mike Nakrani, CEO of VEV, commented:
“Local authorities and bus operators have a huge role to play in realising the UK’s net zero ambitions – and this Government and private funding will be instrumental in making that happen. In our work helping bus operators of all sizes to electrify, we have seen first-hand the enormous potential they have – and the results they are achieving – in cutting emissions output as they transition to electric vehicles.
This is also the case with other mission-critical fleets, including waste collection and logistics. Supporting broader fleet electrification needs to be at the top of the agenda in the UK’s race to net zero.
Nevertheless, funding is only one part of this shift; essential fleets like local bus services still need a carefully planned transition strategy, factoring in power and vehicle requirements, to make electrification cost-effective and financially sustainable. It’s therefore incumbent on the industry to provide the guidance and means to help local authorities and operators deliver a smooth and successful transition.”
Matt Carney, CEO of Go-Ahead Bus, added:
“We’re very grateful to the Department of Transport for this continued partnership. Together we’re investing in even more zero-emission buses so that customers across the UK can access cleaner, greener public transport. This funding will support new zero-emissions buses in Hull, Salisbury, Brighton & Hove, Plymouth and Isle of Wight.”
The investment comes at a crucial time for both England and the wider United Kingdom. Recent sales statistics from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders show that sales of fully-electric buses have soared year-on-year, with around 1,570 zero-emission buses entering service across 2024. It also comes on the back of the government’s adjustments to the passenger car ZEV mandate, with several changes made earlier this week.
