First Bus and West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) have announced an £11.2 million investment for the operator’s Bramley depot and an additional 22 double-decker battery-electric buses.
The local authority has secured a £3.4 million variation request from the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme, while First Bus is adding £7.8 million.
The order of 22 Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliners will bring the battery-electric fleet at Bramley to 79.
The current fleet of 32 single-decker GB Kite Electroliners and 25 Electroliners – part-funded by ZEBRA – entered service in March.
The first of the new batch will arrive in July. By the time the remainder are supplied by the end of 2024, half of First’s fleet at Bramley will be zero-emission.
Deputy Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee, Cllr Peter Carlill, says: “These state-of-the-art electric buses will help West Yorkshire towards its goal of becoming a net zero economy by 2038, as well as encouraging more people to use public transport.
“We are constantly working to introduce more zero-emission buses to the region’s fleet – boosting air quality, improving public transport and helping tackle the climate emergency.
“This investment will help us build a greener and better-connected West Yorkshire.”
Megan Hope, Operations Director of First Bus in North and West Yorkshire, hosted the councillors on the tour. She says: “It was a pleasure to show councillors what our team together with suppliers has achieved with the depot transformation and the introduction of our EV fleet.
“This will play an important part in skilled green jobs for the future and supporting the wider community.
“It is yet more evidence of our continuing successful partnership with West Yorkshire Combined Authority in bringing major improvements to bus services, supporting a shared ambition for a net-zero transport system and reducing carbon emissions in the city.”
