Oxford Bus Company’s (OBC) 104-strong battery-electric bus fleet travelled four million kilometres in 2024, the operator claims.
The Go-Ahead Group subsidiary says the buses, which were rolled out in the first half of last year, saved more than 3,175 tonnes of CO2 emissions as the burning of approximately 1,255,000 litres of diesel fuel was avoided.
OBC estimates that, at present levels, the fleet will cover six million kilometres this year, leading to a reduction of 4,750 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
The fleet electrification is part of Go-Ahead’s plans to reduce emissions by 75% by 2035 and become a net-zero company by 2045.
The new fleet was introduced via the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme awarded to Oxford City Council for a total of 159 buses bought by OBC and Stagecoach. The government scheme contributed £32.8 million, which was added to £6 million from the council and £43.7 million from the bus operators.
Luke Marion, OBC Managing Director, says : “This is another fantastic sustainability milestone following our ground-breaking project to deliver our all-electric city fleet.
“We’re making a really significant contribution to reducing emissions, and improving air quality in our city – and with the entire electric fleet due to be in service for the whole of this year the benefits to the environment will increase further.
“I’m really proud of everyone who has helped us deliver this ambitious infrastructure project which the community is now benefiting from.”
