Following a successful bid to the Government to fund electric buses in Hull and East Riding, the Hull City Council Cabinet has approved plans to purchase 40 vehicles.
A well as allocate approximately 2 million pounds of council funds for the installation of charging infrastructure to support the deployment of these vehicles in the city.
This initiative will benefit local operators and the council’s own passenger vehicle fleet.
In December 2023, the council, in partnership with Stagecoach, East Yorkshire Buses, and East Riding of Yorkshire Council, submitted a joint bid for the Government’s ZEBRA2 scheme (Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas) and were awarded nearly 6 million pounds in March 2024.
While vehicles account for a small proportion of total emissions, transportation is now the largest emitter of carbon in the United Kingdom (UK), with over 200 diesel buses regularly operating in Hull.
The Cabinet’s approval marks a significant milestone, paving the way for replacing parts of the existing fleets of Stagecoach and East Yorkshire Buses, which operate on public routes in the city, with fully electric vehicles.
These, powered by rechargeable batteries, can have a range of several hundred miles.
Electric vehicles are externally charged, typically at the station via a plug once their service is complete.
eBuses are also quieter, provide a smoother ride, and are easier to maintain.
Councillor Mark Ieronimo, Hull City Council’s Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Transportation, Roads, and Highways, stated: “As a council, we are committed to achieving net zero by 2045.”
“These new eBuses will play a vital role in fighting climate change by replacing parts of the existing diesel fleet on 16 of the city’s 46 routes. eVehicles are greener and cleaner, and they will have a transformative impact on public transport across the city,” he adds.
Currently, there are no electric or hybrid operating on public services in Hull, so in addition to the environmental benefits, the new vehicles will have a broader impact by changing the way their residents and visitors perceive buses and helping to encourage mobility and increase passenger demand, according to him.
“The council’s capital investment in infrastructure costs will act as a springboard for both operators to introduce electric vehicles into the city and support them in making future investments in fleet replacement,” he concludes.
Ben Gilligan, Managing Director of East Yorkshire Buses, said: “The news that we have funding to bring zero-emission cars to Hull is fantastic for our city and will make a real difference to the quality of the local environment by eliminating tailpipe emissions and reducing noise.”
“This is a game changer for bus users and will encourage more people to switch to sustainable modes of transport,” he adds.
Matt Cranwell, Managing Director of Stagecoach East Midlands, added: “Hull’s operators are making significant capital investments in new electric buses to bring public transport into the next era of cleaner, quieter, and more environmentally friendly service delivery.”
“The council’s funding commitment for infrastructure costs was a key factor in the success of the Hull Bus Alliance’s bid for the Department for Transport’s ZEBRA grant,” he states.
Therefore, he concludes: “Buses underpin the local economy by providing essential transport connections for people to access employment, education, healthcare, and retail services, making investment in sustainable transport a crucial strategy for Hull’s future development.”
