First Bus has placed into service the opening examples of a 55-strong battery-electric bus fleet for its Basildon depot in what the operator says will shortly represent a major shift for public transport in Essex.
All the Yutong E12 single-decks and U11DD double-decks are due into service by the end of 2025 in a project being delivered under a partnership between First Bus and Essex County Council.
The local authority was awarded £4.8 million from the second round of the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA 2) scheme in England. First Bus is investing £25.8 million in the overall £30.6 million project, which includes infrastructure. The group ordered 169 Yutongs for multiple operating areas via the first phase of ZEBRA 2.
In week commencing 29 September, the first battery-electrics at Basildon are being used on routes 25, 200 and 300, along with town services. When all 55 are in service they will reach destinations including Chelmsford, Lakeside and Southend.
Speaking about the work, First Bus East of England Managing Director Piers Marlow (pictured, right) says: “It is fantastic to see the first of our electric buses on the streets of Basildon.
“Over the coming months, more vehicles will join the fleet until all 55 are in service, delivering cleaner air, quieter journeys, and a more sustainable way to travel. This investment is part of our wider mission to offer zero-emission transport across the East of England and underlines our commitment to the communities we serve.”
Adds Essex County Council Deputy Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Sustainable Transport Cllr Mark Platt: “We are hugely excited to see the first electric buses enter service in Basildon. The new fleet will be a gamechanger for sustainable transport across the borough.
“This project is an important step to help us deliver a safer, greener, healthier transport network, and we thank our partners for their collaboration and hard work to make this happen.”
