British bus operator National Express West Midlands has announced plans to invest £150 million in 300 electric buses to be made locally and delivered by the end of 2024.
The Birmingham-based bus operator has committed to transitioning to a completely zero-emission bus fleet by 2030. The new investment is also backed by an original UK government investment used to kick-start a nationwide electric bus transition and will ensure that over a third of National Express’ fleet is electric by the end of next year.
Additional investments will follow for charging infrastructure and maintenance of the fleet at National Express West Midlands’ network of depots. And National Express has also confirmed that the electricity to power the electric buses will be 100% renewable.
National Express expects its 300 new electric buses will help to avoid nearly 20,000 tonnes of carbon each year.
“This huge green investment shows we are now at the tipping point of electric buses,” said Tom Stables, CEO National Express UK & Germany.
“The initial Government support has got the industry going and we are proud to be a major contributor to the green economy in the West Midlands.
“Replacing our diesel buses with electric means we are on track to meet net zero in a way that is good for business and good for communities.”
He said the electric double decker buses are popular with customers and are more economical to run.
Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), and local bus operators are collectively making a series of investments which are expected to result in 800 electric and zero-emission buses on the region’s streets by 2026.
Amongst these projects is the Coventry Electric Bus City project which is replacing all 275 buses, across all operators, on the city’s streets by 2025.
Another 124 electric or hydrogen-powered buses, including 24 articulated vehicles, will be delivered through 2024 thanks to the Zero-Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) fund. This is in addition to investments made by private bus operators – such as National Express.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.