Passengers across England will enjoy greener, smoother and quieter bus journeys thanks to a 37.8 million pounds government investment to propel forward clean transport, with 319 new zero emission units.
Every pound of government funding is set to be topped up by at least three pounds of private investment.
The funding has been allocated to 12 successful local authorities across England – following bids to expand their zero emission fleets – and will see cleaner vehicles serving passengers by spring 2027.
It comes as the government made changes to the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate yesterday, including increasing flexibility of the mandate up to 2030 and allowing hybrid vehicles to be sold until 2035, all with the aim of supporting UK electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers.
Yesterday (8 April 2025), the Local Transport Minister, Simon Lightwood, visited Hull to see how the funding will bring improved journeys for passengers and discuss how highly skilled engineering and construction jobs will be created locally as electric bus infrastructure is delivered.
Lightwood says: “This funding will not only make bus travel cleaner, greener and more comfortable, but it will deliver on our Plan for Change, creating jobs, supporting local economies and accelerating our journey towards a zero emission future.”
“By backing local councils and UK manufacturers, we are putting the power in the hands of communities, while helping to deliver on our vision of a sustainable, green transport network. From Hull to Hove, there’s an electrifying future on the way for our buses,” he adds.
Among the biggest winners are Nottinghamshire County Council, which will benefit from 2.6 million pounds to launch 42 new electric units, Hull City Council, where 3.9 million pounds has been allocated to provide 42 vehicles and the West of England Combined Authority, which will receive nearly 20 million pounds for 160 units.
This funding comes on top of the Zero Emission Bus Regional Area 2 (ZEBRA 2) programme, which has funded a further 995 zero emission buses.
Funding will see vital bus routes given a new lease of life, for example in Bristol, where funding will be used to expand zero emission bus services across 22 different routes through the city, connecting passengers with vital services including hospitals and universities.
Matt Cranwell, Stagecoach East Midlands Managing Director, states: “We’re delighted to be working with local authorities and the government to invest in a further 78 new electric buses to play our part in improving air quality in those regions where we operate.”
He continues: “This new government funding, supported by significant investment by bus operators, will play a key role in Stagecoach’s transition to green fleets, helping us to meet our goal of having a zero emission UK bus fleet nationally, by 2035.”
60% of buses funded by previous ZEBRA investments are being procured from domestic firms, supporting highly skilled jobs and growing regional economies to improve living standards, as per the government’s Plan for Change.
Regional leaders and leading manufacturers are also being given a voice on zero emission plans – through the UK bus manufacturing expert panel – which seeks to put local people at the heart of bus building.
The first event was hosted by the Local Transport Minister in Sheffield last month and saw experts from Alexander Dennis and Wrightbus speak with Metro Mayors Oliver Coppard (South Yorkshire) and Tracy Brabin (West Yorkshire), about how local transport ambitions could link hand in hand with zero emission ambitions.
Matt Carney, CEO, Go-Ahead Bus, indicates: “Together we’re investing in even more zero-emission buses so that customers across the UK can access cleaner, greener public transport. This funding will support new zero-emissions buses in Hull, Salisbury, Brighton and Hove, Plymouth and Isle of Wight.”
The incoming Bus Services Bill will not only hand power back for local authorities to operate their own services, but also include a measure to ultimately end the use of new diesel and petrol buses across England.
It is expected to progress into the House of Commons shortly.
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