The first of 36 battery-electric Yutong E12 buses due to Cardiff Bus and Cardiff Council before the end of 2021 have been delivered.
The arrival of the buses, which are equipped with next-stop audio and visual announcements and USB charging ports, marks the start of a fleet modernisation and investment programme announced earlier in the year.
Their delivery comes after the installation of charging infrastructure in the operator’s Sloper Road depot and will allow for driver training and the commissioning of depot infrastructure ahead of their official launch in the coming weeks.
“We have been all about our city for nearly 120 years, and we are rightly proud of the part we play in city life,” says Cardiff Bus Managing Director Paul Dyer. “Cardiff Bus is the bus network in Cardiff, part of the city’s fabric, and this game changing development further underscores this. We’re proud to play our part in improving the air quality in the city.
“I’d like to thank those involved in the project thus far, and now welcome our drivers, engineers and all support staff into the key part they will play getting these game-changing buses onto the streets of our fine city.
“This investment wasn’t possible without the support of wider stakeholders and, significantly, our shareholder, Cardiff Council. We look forward to continuing to work with our shareholder to make buses the way of moving around our city – an objective we both share and are working hard to achieve.”
