Rolling out new electric bus fleet
Hull City Council, working through the Hull Bus Alliance and in partnership with East Riding of Yorkshire Council, has successfully secured almost £10million to roll out electric buses in Hull and the East Riding through the Government’s ZEBRA2 (zero emission bus regional areas) project.
The funding will see the installation of charging facilities at the city depots for both Stagecoach East Midlands and East Yorkshire, as well as the purchase of 82 new electric buses to operate on the region’s roads.
Although buses make up a small proportion of overall emissions, transport is now the UK’s largest emitter of carbon.
The new electric buses will replace existing diesel vehicles operated by both operators in Hull and the East Riding.
Electric buses run on rechargeable batteries and are quieter and provide a smoother ride. They are also easier to maintain.
They have a range of up to several hundred miles and are charged externally, usually at the depot on a plug, after the end of service.
Unlike diesel buses, they produce no carbon emissions or nitrogen oxides, so they can also contribute to improved air quality and help combat climate change.
The new buses are currently under construction and will begin serving passengers and communities in Hull and the East Riding in 2026.