National Express orders 300 more electric buses for use across West Midlands
Fri 27 January 2023
View all news
National Express West Midlands has announced plans to buy 300 UK-made electric buses for delivery by the end of December 2024. The company will invest £150m in the purchase the buses which will be deployed across the West Midlands region in a purchase that's thought to be the biggest single commitment to zero-emission buses yet made in the UK.
National Express says that the company is able to deliver on its commitment to fully decarbonise its bus fleet in the UK by 2030 thanks to the original Government investments that have kick-started the transition to zero emission buses. Once the new vehicles are integrated into West Midlands' fleet, over a third of the fleet will be zero emissions.
The company says that the buses will be built in the UK and that additional investment will be made in infrastructure for charging and maintenance of the fleet across National Express's network of depots. The electricity to power the electric vehicles will be 100% renewable and zero carbon.
Some 800 electric and zero-emission buses are expected to be on the region’s streets by 2026, including the Coventry Electric Bus City project which is replacing all 275 buses, across all operators, on the city’s streets by 2025.
A further 124 electric or hydrogen powered buses, including 24 articulated vehicles for the Sprint route on the A34 and A45, will be delivered next year through the Zero-Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) fund.
Tom Stables, CEO National Express UK & Germany, said: “This huge green investment shows we are now at the tipping point of electric buses. 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.
Transport Minister Richard Holden MP, said: “Reliable, clean and efficient bus services at a good price are what everyone wants to see from our bus network and I am determined to do everything possible to decarbonise our transport network and support skilled jobs in next generation bus manufacturing across the UK.
Image: Courtesy National Express Group
Related Links
< Back to news list