Coach operators and bus operators are equally prominent among winners of the second phase of the Scottish Zero Emission Bus challenge fund (ScotZEB2). £41.7 million from that mechanism will support 252 new battery-electric vehicles and a significant amount of charging infrastructure.
Eight operators are confirmed as recipients of the money, with a small amount in the process of reallocation from a participant that withdrew after awards were finalised. Under the consortium-based approach of ScotZEB2, bid leader Zenobē will administer the grant funding among consortium members.
In addition to supporting vehicle purchases, the allocation will foster creation of what the Scottish Government describes as “a Scotland-wide charging network for use by all coaches, buses and HGVs.” That will permit further decarbonisation beyond the direct scope of ScotZEB2, it adds.
Of bus operators, McGill’s will procure 42 vehicles and charging infrastructure at three sites. Stagecoach will get 78 vehicles and infrastructure at five locations. It is understood that coaches may feature among either or both those awards.
Among operators where coach is core, D&E Coaches, Ember, Hairy Haggis Tours, Maynes Coaches and Premier Coaches will each receive funding towards procurement of zero-emission vehicles and associated infrastructure.
Ember is the biggest beneficiary of ScotZEB2. It will see the part-funding of 100 vehicles and infrastructure at five sites. Of the other coach operators, Maynes will receive 12 vehicles; D&E five; Premier four; and Hairy Haggis two.
Of the remaining vehicles, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is to gain five, while the funding that is in the process of reallocation will be for at least four.
ScotZEB2 is the first grant funding scheme in the UK to support zero-emission coaches for use cases other than scheduled services. Guidance notes made clear that those vehicles bought for tourism-related work, private hire and other fields were eligible. That was credited to engagement work by coach operators in Scotland and their representatives.
Consultancy BluMarbl is also part of the winning consortium, having performed in-depth assessment and analysis of each participating operator’s work and depots. No details of the vehicle types that form part of ScotZEB2 have yet been disclosed but it is understood that some orders have already been placed by operators involved.
In announcing the winners, Transport Scotland underlined that ScotZEB2 is the final tranche of the wider ScotZEB approach. It builds upon £113 million already invested by the Scottish Government in zero-emission coaches and buses and associated infrastructure.
Naming of ScotZEB2 winners has been significantly delayed and the total sum awarded is well below the £58 million initially put to the scheme. In late 2023, it was revealed that eight of 10 consortium-based bids submitted by then had been rejected, with the two remaining parties – including that involving Zenobē – being invited to submit “their final and best bid.”
First Minister John Swinney notes how for every £1 provided by the Scottish Government via ScotZEB2, £3.20 of private investment will be forthcoming. That demonstrates how “our shared decarbonisation goals can be met by working together when it comes to removing carbon emissions from our coach and bus fleets.”
Mr Swinney says that the investment will open new economic and social opportunities in Scotland and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 600,000 tonnes over the lifetime of the vehicles involved.
“All coach and bus operators, including those operating in smaller towns and communities, will benefit from both the novel approach to financing and the Scotland-wide charging network that will be delivered, helping other modes of transport to make the switch to electric vehicles too,” adds the First Minister.
Zenobē Co-Founder and Director Steven Meersman has welcomed the naming of winners. “The consortium brings together family-owned coach companies, well-established bus operators, an innovative electric bus start-up and the NHS, showing how private capital can help public funding go the extra mile,” says Mr Meersman.
Trade body RHA has lauded the infrastructure element of ScotZEB2. Policy Lead Chris Ashley says that it will assist the wider commercial vehicle industry in its decarbonisation efforts and help operators to plan the introduction of zero-emission to their fleets.
In total, infrastructure part-funded by ScotZEB2 will be installed at a minimum of 23 sites in Scotland.
