The first new electric buses from First Bus South, operator of First Bus Solent, have entered service in Portsmouth, Fareham and Gosport, ushering in the region’s first zero-emissions units.
They are the first of 62 vehicles which will be rolled over the coming weeks for passengers on a number of routes.
The state-of-the-art, British made zero emission units from manufacturer Wrightbus, mean cleaner air and quieter streets for local people.
Offering a smoother, more comfortable ride, on board they are fitted with features including USB charging points, on screen and audio announcements, and the latest in accessibility design.
The 28.6 million pounds project to bring electric buses to the Solent region is due to a partnership with Portsmouth City Council and Hampshire County Council which secured 12.7 million pounds from government ZEBRA funding along with a 15.9 million pounds investment from First Bus South.
The introduction of the new electric vehicles (EVs) will mean that when all 62 units are in service by the Summer, nearly half of the total fleet (42 per cent) operated by First Bus Solent will be electric.
The area where these units will be operating includes two Clean Air Zones (CAZ), so the arrival of the fleet will support both the environment and public health – helping to improve air quality, cut pollution and reduce carbon emissions.
The units will operate from First Bus Solent’s Hoeford depot in Fareham, where works are taking place to support the infrastructure for charging and operation of the new electric fleet.
Simon Goff, First Bus South’s Managing Director, says: “So much hard work and planning has gone into getting us to this point and I’m so excited to see the first EV buses go out onto the roads to serve customers in Portsmouth, Fareham and Gosport.
Jean-Marc Gales, CEO at Wrightbus, states: “We are delighted to be supporting First Bus South in the drive to transform transport in the region and help build a more sustainable future.”
“We have great ambitions both in the UK and across Europe to have many more of our buses on the roads in the future,” he adds.
All of the vehicles have been built in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, further supporting the wider regional economy and enabling the creation of green jobs.
