Oxford’s first fleet of battery-electric buses will be put into operation on the BROOKESBus service before the end of this year following the official launch to mark the introduction of Oxford Bus Company’s (OBC) 21 new Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliners.
The double-deckers, which are branded in partnership with Oxford Brookes University, were unveiled at the University’s Headington Campus on 16 November.
They form part of OBC’s order of 104 from Wrightbus which also includes five GB Kite Electroliner single-deckers.
The 21 vehicles will fully replace the diesel fleet used for the BROOKESBus service and are part of Oxford’s wider transition to battery-electric.
A total of 159 zero-emissions vehicles are destined for the city courtesy of £45 million from Go Ahead Group and Stagecoach, £6 from Oxfordshire City Council and £32.8 million via the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme.
OBC says all of the energy used to charge the BROOKESBus buses will come from renewable sources and that the fleet will be the largest all-electric example in UK’s Higher Education sector.
Professor Alistair Fitt, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford Brookes, says: “The launch of these new, fully electric BROOKESbuses is an important step towards our ambition of delivering net zero by 2040, something we know is very important to our students, staff and wider community. We are also very proud that these new buses will be charged from renewable sources.
“We recognise the critical role that the BROOKESbus service plays for students, staff and the city’s community and visitors. In 2022, for instance, we amalgamated the service with some of Oxford’s local park-and-ride services and provided a much-needed bus route from Blackbird Leys to the University.
“We know the impact of the cost of living on students’ lives. That is why I am particularly excited that this new cleaner bus service offers free journeys for the vast majority of our students.”
Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company, adds: “It’s fantastic to see the first BROOKESbus branded electric vehicles arrive as part of our exciting journey towards delivering an all-electric fleet of city buses.
“Oxford Brookes University is equally committed to using innovation to enhance sustainability and we’re proud to deliver this milestone for our community via our long-standing partnership.
“Our investment in net zero vehicles and the associated infrastructure will further help improve air quality and make bus travel an even more sustainable option for Brookes students, staff, and the wider public to travel around Oxford.”
