Of the 715 battery-electric vehicles that make up the current round of decarbonisation work being undertaken by Stagecoach, six are coaches for its operations in Scotland, the group has revealed.
The overall total brings together vehicles part-funded by the second round of the Scottish Zero Emission Bus challenge fund (ScotZEB2), the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme in England, and buses for Transport for London (TfL) services.
The battery-electric coaches will be the first such vehicles for Stagecoach and are expected to be from the Yutong range. The group’s operations in Scotland will see 78 new arrivals via ScotZEB2, with the six coaches accompanied by 44 double-decker buses and 28 single-deckers.
Stagecoach is among several operators in the coach field that were awarded funding from ScotZEB2. Coaches were included in the scheme’s second round after lobbying from members of the coach industry and its representatives.
Across the total of 715 battery-electrics for Stagecoach, 143 are for TfL contracted work. They “will be fully purchased by Stagecoach,” a spokesperson advises. Among “many other locations across the country” to benefit from the wider procurement are Dunfermline, Exeter, Inverness, Oxford, and Manchester.
The group notes that while its Merseyside, Cheshire and South Lancashire subsidiary is part of a hydrogen fuel cell-electric project in the Liverpool City Region, “the current fleet focus is on battery-electric vehicles.”
Stagecoach adds that the 715-vehicle work includes significant depot and infrastructure upgrades across the country. ScotZEB2 and ZEBRA money is key to the investment in non-London operations
Work at depots to accommodate the vehicles includes charging infrastructure, battery storage, and installation of solar panels. After delivery of the vehicles, 15% of Stagecoach’s coach and bus fleet will be electric.
Asset Management and Infrastructure Director Tony Cockroft says: “We are thrilled to announce this transformative investment in our fleet, which will enable us to modernise and upgrade our infrastructure, paving the way for a more sustainable and efficient transport system for communities across the country.”
