Nottingham City Transport (NCT) and Zenobē, a leading fleet electrification specialist, have marked the successful handover of NCT’s newly electrified Trent Bridge Garage, officially transitioning the site from preparation and installation to electric operations.
This milestone follows the announcement of the joint project between Nottingham City Council, NCT and Zenobē, supported by £12.3 million from the Department for Transport’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) fund in 2022.
As part of the £30 million total project investment, NCT’s 1901 tramshed has been electrified with modern charging infrastructure, ready to support 78 electric buses. The first 48 electric buses are currently in service, and have already clocked up nearly 3 million kilometres in service, with an additional 14 to arrive in the coming weeks.
The handover marks NCT’s first electrification project going live, delivered in close collaboration with Zenobē who provided financing for vehicles and batteries, charging infrastructure and crucial expertise – ensuring NCT could get the required grid connection and continue to deliver for their passengers.
The success of this project demonstrates how existing bus depots can be effectively upgraded, rather than replaced, making the transition to electric more feasible for other operators across the UK.
As the final 14 buses are delivered in the coming weeks, the depot is fully equipped to support its electric ambitions – a significant step towards Nottingham’s aspiration to be carbon-neutral by 2028.
David Astill, NCT Managing Director, said: “It’s an exciting moment for us as the works to introduce our first electric depot are now complete. Zenobē have been instrumental in successfully delivering Nottingham City Transport’s ambitions and supporting our team along the way. This project proves that with the right partners, public and private sector collaboration can deliver real change. It is an important step towards Nottingham’s carbon-neutral ambitions.”
Julia Meek, Director of Bus, said: “We are delighted to mark this important milestone with Nottingham City Transport as we hand over a fully operational electric depot.
“By combining NCT’s operational expertise, net-zero ambition, and deep understanding of passenger needs with our financial and technical capabilities, we have built a strong foundation for the efficient and reliable operation of these buses.
“This is a powerful example of public–private collaboration delivering enhanced bus services for the people of Nottingham. We look forward to strengthening this partnership and supporting the continued efficient operation of these vehicles, ensuring they run reliably, cleanly, and cost-effectively across the network.”
