Stagecoach East Midlands has commenced work at its Hull depot to ready the facility to host 42 battery-electric buses, which the operator says will be rolled out in the spring.
Of those, 32 will now be Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV double-decks and 10 will be Yutong E10 single-decks. They will join examples of both types already in use with other Stagecoach fleets.
Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council were awarded funding from the original phase of the second round of the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme, with Hull City Council also benefiting from a supplemental allocation.
Across Stagecoach and East Yorkshire Buses, over 80 battery-electric vehicles are to enter service in Hull. The local authority has also allocated capital funding to support the rollout, including for charging infrastructure, as part of its commitment to tackling the climate emergency. Both operators are also making multi-million-pound investments.
Ground was broken at Stagecoach’s Foster Street depot in early February by Managing Director Matt Cranwell (pictured, left) and Hull City Council Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Transport and Infrastructure Cllr Mark Ieronimo (pictured, right).
Says Mr Cranwell: “We are so proud to have broken ground on the new facilities for our electric bus fleet in Hull. Investments like this aim to offer a more reliable and more comfortable service, as well as cleaner air, for our loyal customers in the city.
“Our ongoing multi-million-pound investment will decarbonise our fleet while bringing state-of-the-art bus travel to our customers. As we invest in a new electric fleet to bring more sustainable public transport, we would encourage everyone to leave their cars at home and give our new buses a go.”
Adds Cllr Ieronimo: “Stagecoach East Midlands breaking ground on the new EV facilities at Foster Street is the latest milestone in our joint work to revolutionise public transport in Hull.
“It was brilliant to see the enthusiasm of all the staff as they prepare for the arrival of their first electric buses. These new vehicles will have a transformative impact on public transport throughout the city. As well as providing quieter and more comfortable journeys, they will improve the reliability of services and help us to encourage, and increase, passenger demand.”
Across Stagecoach Group, over 15% of its 8,300-strong coach and bus fleet is now electric.
