- Through the third funding round of Scotland’s ‘Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund’ (ScotZEB), the Scottish Government has put down a significant £45 million to support the rollout of zero-emission buses (including fully electric buses).
- This is the final round of the ScotZEB program, with the program now concluding having supported the roll out of over 800 buses in Scotland.
- The £45 million investment is set to bring over 330 additional zero-emission buses to Scotland’s transport operators, significantly decarbonising bus transportation across the country.
More electric buses on the way to Scotland as ScotZEB program comes to a close
This latest and final round of funding through the ScotZEB scheme will bring another 334 zero emission vehicles to Scotland’s roads – including 107 coaches and 227 buses. Awardees in this round include Ember, Stagecoach, Rock Road, Lothian, and First Bus, with models from Yutong, ADL, Wrightbus, and Volvo set to be procured. As well as new vehicles, the funding will also support the repowering of 15 existing buses, for operator First Bus.
The move once again cements the United Kingdom’s position as the largest zero emission bus market in Europe (by volume). Announcements from various operators across the country announcing new rollouts of zero-emission and electric buses have been coming through thick and fast for the last few months.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop, commented:
“This final investment of £45 million from the Scottish Government through ScotZEB3 signals our commitment to a zero emission future for Scotland’s bus sector.
Since 2020, we have invested over £154 million in zero emission buses and infrastructure. This additional £45 million will support the ambition and leadership of operators that seek to decarbonise their operations as quickly as possible. It also helps ensure that the bus sector can access the benefits of Scotland’s investment in secure, renewable sources of electricity.
With every £1 of public funding leveraging over £2.50 of private investment, ScotZEB3 has demonstrated that government and industry can work together to deliver transformative climate action.
The programme is not only reducing emissions – it’s supporting jobs and our economy, connecting communities across Scotland and improving the experience for passengers across the country.”
