Stagecoach South West used the Baton of Hope Torbay event on 30 September to unveil one of its first battery-electric Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV double-deckers for the area ahead of the operator’s depot there becoming fully zero-emission.
In the summer, VEV began installing 150kW chargers at Torquay as part of a wider agreement with Stagecoach South West that involves similar work at depots in Barnstaple and Exeter. Across those three locations, what is now said to be 110 battery-electric buses from a mix of manufacturers will be operational by early 2026.
An investment of £29.3 million is going into the Torquay electrification. Of that, 75% is from Stagecoach, with the remainder from the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme.
The first Enviro400EV was shown at the Baton of Hope Torbay relay event on 30 September. That gathering formed part of the UK’s biggest suicide prevention initiative and it aimed to promote better mental health in the region and raise awareness of suicide.
Stagecoach South West Managing Director Peter Knight says: “We are proud to support the Baton of Hope event and to bring along one of our new electric double-decker buses for the very first time in Torbay.
“This is just the beginning of a major transformation in how we deliver bus services here. By next year, Torbay will host our first fully electric depot, helping to cut emissions, improve air quality, and provide passengers with quieter, smoother journeys.”
Torbay Council Cabinet Member for Children’s Services Cllr Nick Bye was a baton bearer in the relay. He acknowledges how Stagecoach South West “pulled out all the stops to show residents one of these brand-new buses for the first time.”
Continues Cllr Bye: “It is great that Torbay is getting this investment in sustainable transport, and I am so pleased that one of the buses made its debut at the Baton of Hope event.”
