- UK bus operator, Stagecoach Bus, is introducing the first fully-electric buses for the Sunderland region, with Pelican Bus + Coach supplying 20 fully-electric Yutong single-decker buses for the fleet.
- The addition will aid Stagecoach Bus in working towards its goal of operating a 100% zero tailpipe emissions bus fleet across the UK, by 2035.
- The new buses were acquired with help from £19.5 million worth of funding from the country’s Levelling Up Fund, devoted to helping decarbonise transport in the region.
20 Yutong electric buses set to hit the North East’s roads
The new electric buses, which are set to carry around 30,000 passengers every week, will make a significant impact to decarbonisation on the region’s roads. Supporting these vehicles will be ten twin charging points, being installed at Stagecoach’s Sunderland depot.
Alongside these buses, another 75 electric buses are set to join the region’s fleet during 2025. These additional buses will be supported through the UK’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme.
Steve Walker, Managing Director of Stagecoach North East, commented:
“By March 2026 we’ll have 40 sites live across the country [with electric buses] and we’ll have added 500 more electric vehicles, giving us 1,083 zero-emission buses in total. That’s 13 percent of the fleet. Embracing decarbonisation also means adapting the way we work, positively improving our ways of working and the working environment.”
Ian Downie, Head of Yutong Sales and Pelican Bus + Coach, added:
“Pelican Bus + Coach are absolutely delighted to have provided these state-of-the-art zero tailpipe emission vehicles to Stagecoach. The vehicles are packed with customer-centric features, such as full electric air conditioning, providing an unrivalled passenger experience. The team at Stagecoach have been fantastic to work with on this project and we look forward to seeing the vehicles in service. 200 trees will be planted in the UK in honour of this order milestone.”