- 42 new electric buses are set to be rolled out across the UK county of Gloucestershire, in a funded partnership between the UK Government, Stagecoach West, and Gloucestershire County Council.
- The new rollout represents a significant total investment of over £20 million, and comes as Stagecoach targets a zero emission bus fleet across the UK by 2035.
- In the UK, electric bus adoption has been strong so far, with both drivers and passengers preferring the quieter and smoother ride compared to their diesel predecessors.
42 electric buses set to join Stagecoach’s Gloucestershire fleet
The £20 million-plus investment contains £17 million from Stagecoach West, with the UK Government and Gloucestershire County Council also contributing more than £3.5 million to enable the new electric bus rollout. These new buses will be rolled out across Cheltenham, Gloucester, and Tewkesbury, and help provide transport some of the region’s busiest bus routes. To support the rollout of these new electric buses, technology such as high-power charging systems and solar panels have also started to be installed at bus depots across Gloucestershire, allowing the first of these electric buses to be rolled out from early next year.
These 42 electric buses will directly replace 42 diesel buses currently in operation, representing a significant replacement of around 20% of Stagecoach’s total Gloucestershire fleet. Stagecoach estimate that this replacement will remove around 43,224 tonnes of carbon emissions that would otherwise be emitted with diesel buses.
The rollout in Gloucestershire also mirrors recent significant moves elsewhere in the UK. Recently, First Bus announced the rollout of another 74 electric buses to its Bristol fleet, after undertaking an EV refurbishment of its nearby depot.
Chris Hanson, Managing Director at Stagecoach West, commented:
“This investment is a huge leap forward for greener travel. These new electric buses don’t just help the environment; they transform the passenger experience. Residents will have better buses, cleaner air, and reduce their carbon footprint.”
Councillor Lisa Spivey, Leader at Gloucestershire County Council, added:
“We’re proud to support this major investment in zero-emission transport. These new electric buses will play a vital role in cutting carbon emissions, improving local air quality, and encouraging more people to choose public transport. It’s a key step in our ambition to create a greener Gloucestershire and reach net-zero by 2045.”
