A family-owned operator in Dumfries and Galloway has completed a year since transitioning to using battery-electric buses, amassing over 250,000 miles in electric vehicle (EV) journeys.
Supported by ScottishPower, Houston’s Coaches, which operates routes across the South of Scotland, has reduced its CO2 footprint by 37.5 tonnes through the introduction of the four EV buses and the installation of two dedicated EV charging points.
The electrification was made possible through the Scottish Zero Emissions Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB), which allocated funding from its initial £50m phase to support the transition of bus operators to zero-emission vehicles. Houston’s Coaches, among twelve other recipients, benefitted from the fund, thanks to collaborative efforts with ScottishPower in securing the finances.
The transition aligns with Dumfries and Galloway Council’s goal to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2025.
William Houston, Managing Director of Houston’s Coaches, says: “We’re accelerating our sustainable journey with electric buses already having a positive impact within the first year, allowing our customers to conveniently travel more sustainably. We’re truly proud to be able to say that we’re innovators who are not willing to let a lack of infrastructure stop us from achieving our sustainability goals. The transformation for our fleet in just one year has been great and we hope our work with ScottishPower inspires others to do the same.”
Acknowledging the support from ScottishPower in the funding process, he adds: “The support we have received from ScottishPower when applying for funding was invaluable, and we’re looking forward to continuing to work closely with them to explore more green tech including solar panels and battery storage.”
Comments Andrew Mouat, Head of Smart Mobility at ScottishPower (pictured): “Houston’s Coaches has emerged as a leader within their industry through investment in green tech.
“Providing valuable community transport and connectivity services, Houston’s Coaches are helping the customers they serve adopt greener choices as part of its everyday routines. There’s a huge opportunity for other operators to follow suit and bring the benefits of sustainable EVs to their community.”
