Government commits £11m to greener buses

The government is to invest £11m in green bus technology across England and Wales. Local authorities and bus companies in Bristol, York, Brighton, Surrey, Denbighshire and Wiltshire have been awarded the funding under the government’s Low Emission Bus Scheme.

The funding will enable them to buy 153 new electric and gas buses, and to also install stations to fuel or charge them.

Transport minister Paul Maynard said: “Low emission buses are an important part of our plans to make motoring cleaner and improve air quality across the country. New greener buses will be more comfortable for passengers, they are cost efficient and are good for the environment.”

The successful bidders are:

• South Gloucestershire Council - £4.8m for 110 gas buses for services around Bristol
• City of York Council - £3.3m for 24 electric buses to be used on park and ride services in York
• Surrey County Council, Guildford – £1.5m for nine electric buses to be used on park and ride services in Guildford
• The Big Lemon, £500,000 for three electric buses to be used in the Brighton area
• Denbighshire County Council, Wales - £500,000 for four electric buses to be used on services in mid-Denbighshire
• Go South Coast/Wiltshire County Council – £500,000 for three electric buses to be used on park & ride services around Salisbury

The government’s support for low emission buses is one part of a £600m package of measures from the Office for Low Emission Vehicles by 2020, plus £270m announced in the 2016 Autumn Statement to support the roll-out of low emission cars, taxis and buses and supporting infrastructure. This follows an initial £30m awarded to bus companies and local councils in July 2016 under the ‘Low emission bus scheme’ to help put over 300 more low emission buses on the country’s roads.

Investment in green buses was flagged up in the DfT’s air quality plan was published last month. Later this year, the government will also publish plans for a second round of the ‘Low emission bus scheme’ with a view to putting even more of the cleanest buses on our streets.