- Building on a number of significant recent moves by First Bus to push forward on electrification of its various UK bus fleets, the transport operator has now announced plans to electrify its Taunton and Minehead depots, in the South-West of England.
- These electrification projects will enable First Bus South to add 26 new electric buses to its ‘Buses of Somerset’ fleet in the region.
- This project, worth £14.7 million, had £12.5 million contributed by First Bus South, with the other £2.2 million coming from the governmental Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme.
First Bus continues its electrification plans
The electrification of these two depots, and subsequent electric buses, will be the first zero-emission buses to operate in the area, helping to replace existing diesel-powered buses. The conversion of each is estimated to prevent 75 tonnes worth of tailpipe emissions, annually.
The news comes on the back of several recent electric bus-related announcements from the operator. Most recently, it made a £12.7 million investment to bring 36 electric buses to Aberdeen, while another £59 million has been allocated to electrifying depots in the significant metropolitan areas of Bristol and Weston-super-Mare.
Simon Goff, First Bus South Managing Director, commented:
“Today is an important milestone as work starts to transform Taunton and Minehead depots into electric ready bases for our new EVs. We look forward to getting these state-of- the-art new buses on the road for customers by Spring 2025. The 26 zero-emissions buses are fantastic news for passengers, bringing cleaner, greener vehicles to our routes, helping to improve air quality, and making bus travel even more sustainable. What’s more, the transformation of these depots will also bring smart new facilities for our staff at Taunton and Minehead.”
Councillor Richard Wilkins, Lead Member for Transport and Waste services at Somerset Council, added:
“This is an important moment in our journey to bring electric buses to Somerset. The partnership with First Bus South has enabled us to take huge steps in the right direction to support the switch to sustainable methods of travel. We have a vision to transform bus services in our towns and working together, we are able to achieve that. I look forward to seeing the development of the Taunton and Minehead sites, and the arrival of electric buses next year.”
