78 new, green, clean, electric single deck buses are heading to Nottingham following a successful Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas fund (ZEBRA) bid by Nottingham City Transport and Nottingham City Council to central government.
Nottingham will receive £15 million towards the cost of 78 brand new buses and electric charging infrastructure.
The new buses will see the full electrification of NCT’s single deck bus fleet at its Trent Bridge Garage, replacing all of NCT’s existing single deck fleet which serve 18 bus routes across the Greater Nottingham area.
The funding comes from the Zero Emission Buses Regional Area (ZEBRA) scheme, which was launched last year to allow local transport authorities to bid for funding to purchase zero emission buses. Nottingham is one of twelve areas in England to be awarded
money in the Department for Transport announcement made on 26 March 2022.
David Astill, Nottingham City Transport’s Managing Director said: “The electrification of our bus fleet is not a commercial proposition without this significant ZEBRA funding. This will now help us to progress our ambitious plans to become one of the UK’s first carbon neutral bus operators. Our thanks to Nottingham City Council, who played an important part in developing our successful bid.”
Councillor Rosemary Healy, Nottingham City Council’s portfolio holder for Transport said: “It’s fantastic news that we have received this funding to expand our city’s green bus fleet.
“Nottingham is leading the way with our green buses, we already have 120 bio gas and 29 electric buses in our city and 78 new electric buses will be a welcome sight.
“Greener buses help to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality, which has a major impact on the health of our citizens and the planet.
“Plus, newer buses offer a more comfortable journey for passengers too. It’s great that we’re working with NCT to help them become one of the UK’s first carbon neutral bus operators, and Nottingham a carbon neutral city by 2028.”
Transport Minister Baroness Vere said: “We recognise the scale of the challenge the world faces in reaching net zero. That’s why reducing emissions and creating green jobs lies at the heart of our transport agenda. Today’s multimillion-pound investment is an enormous step towards a cleaner future, helping ensure transport is fit for generations to come and allowing millions of people to get around in a way that is kinder to our environment.”
Several electric demonstration buses have been trialled by NCT over recent months and manufacturers will shortly be invited to submit their bid to supply the electric bus fleet, with the first new electric buses entering service next year.
