Nottingham City Transport (NCT) has ordered a further 12 Yutong battery-electric buses from Pelican Bus and Coach. Five will be U11DD double-deck examples and seven are E12 single-deck models, complementing a large number of the latter already in use.
The further order was confirmed at the 2026 ALBUM conference on 12/13 May in Blackpool. It complements an earlier deal for 19 battery-electric double-decks that are in hand, of which 13 will be U11DD models. The other six will be Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliners.
When all 31 buses on order are in service, they will run alongside an existing pool of 62 Yutong battery-electrics to give the municipal operator a total zero-emission fleet of 93, or one-third of its vehicles.
The earlier 19 double-decks are due to arrive in late 2026. The 12 further buses are expected in April 2027. Both investments are being supported through funding from the Mayor of the East Midlands and the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), awarded by Nottinghamshire County Council.
Pelican says that 40% of the value of the NCT buses will be added through completion at its facilities in Castleford. Head of Yutong UK Ian Downie has thanked the operator for its further business.
Adds NCT Finance Director Rob Hicklin: “We are delighted to announce our order for an additional 12 Yutong electric buses from Pelican Bus and Coach. Since the first single-deck started operating with NCT two years ago, our electric bus fleet has proven to be extremely reliable, clocking up over five million kilometres in service.”
Mayor of the East Midlands Claire Ward says that EMCCA is “on the case” in helping the region’s bus fleet to move away from diesel.
“These buses bring everything that our residents have told us they need from their journeys, with air-conditioning, extra leg room, and full colour destination displays,” she adds. “And this is vital; the more people that use the bus, the closer we get to building a city that is clean, well connected, and climate resilient.”
