- UK bus operator, First Bus, will make an investment of £12.7 million into the Scottish city of Aberdeen, adding a total of 36 electric buses to the city’s fleet.
- This will include 24 brand new electric double deckers from Wrightbus, and 12 ‘repowered’ buses – existing buses that have been converted from an ICE to an EV powertrain.
- First Bus partnered with the local Robert Gordon University to announce the investment, with these new buses set to run on routes one and two, which run to and from the university campus.
First Bus builds on its UK-wide electrification
These 36 electic buses will join the fleet in 2025, resulting in First Bus’ Aberdeen fleet having one of the highest proportions of fully-electric buses in the UK. It’s not detailed who will convert or provide the 12 EV-converted buses, but First Bus recently made a £1 million investment into electric bus converters, KleanDrive.
The order is part of First Bus’ ambition to have a fully-electric fleet, across all the UK regions it operates in, by 2035. Elsewhere, the firm has made big steps recently in creating the infrastructure that’ll be required to operate such a fleet of electric buses – opening new electric bus depots and electrifying existing ones.
Duncan Cameron, Managing Director of First Bus Scotland, commented:
“This £12.7 million investment in new electric buses is a game-changer for Aberdeen. It not only aligns with our green ambitions but also underscores our commitment to providing more sustainable and comfortable transportation options for the city.
It was a pleasure to meet with students from Robert Gordon University to discuss the impact the new buses will have on the university and hear firsthand their passion for sustainability. By significantly increasing the number of zero-emission buses in our fleet, we are taking bold steps to improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions, making Aberdeen a cleaner and healthier place to live.”
Jean-Marc Gales, CEO of Wrightbus, added:
“Public transport is at the forefront of the green revolution and these buses for Aberdeen will instantly remove harmful emissions from the city. Our zero-emission buses have gained a global following, with exports to Asia, Australia and Europe, and this investment by First Bus demonstrates their continued commitment to sustainable transport solutions.”
