Investment in zero-emission fleets must be matched by improved road infrastructure and better bus priority measures if people are to be further encouraged to switch to those vehicles from cars, Stagecoach Bluebird Managing Director Peter Knight (pictured, left) has said.
Mr Knight was speaking as the operator unveiled 22 BYD ADL Enviro400EV battery-electric double-deckers. They are based at Tullos depot in Aberdeen and will be utilised on routes that include the high-profile 727 service to Aberdeen airport from the end of April.
£11.2m has been invested in the battery-electric buses, including £4.1m from the second round of the Scottish Ultra-Low Emission Bus Scheme (SULEBS2). Stagecoach’s West Scotland and East Scotland operating companies are also benefiting from SULEBS2.
In addition to their use on the Aberdeen airport service, the Enviro400EV fleet for Stagecoach Bluebird will also displace diesel-electric hybrids from service 59 in the city. It was one of the first routes in Scotland to use hybrid buses, with those having taken up service in 2012.
Mr Knight continues: “We are all really excited to welcome the battery-electric buses to our Aberdeen fleet.
“Training for our team of drivers and engineers is well underway and we are planning for the new buses to be out in service for our customers later this month.
“Sustainable transport is critical to the future of our planet: Decarbonising local journeys, reducing road congestion, improving air quality and tackling climate change. Travelling by bus, when we can, is one of the easiest ways to address climate change through carbon reduction of our own journeys.”
