First Bus has achieved a significant milestone in its transition to electric vehicles in Leeds, with the final installment of a 79-strong electric bus fleet now in service. The Bramley depot, which supports the fleet, has been upgraded with new charging infrastructure following a £29 million investment.
This includes £16.4 million financed by First Bus and an additional £12.6 million secured through the Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) funding program in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA).
The first 57 electric buses from Wrightbus, a Northern Ireland-based manufacturer, arrived early in the year. A subsequent order of 22 double-decker electric buses has now also been fulfilled, funded through a £11.2 million investment in collaboration with WYCA and the UK Department for Transport’s ZEBRA fund, which contributed £3.4 million.
The expanded fleet marks a substantial shift toward zero emissions, with 50% of First Bus’s vehicles in Leeds now electric. John Roxburgh, Head of Operations for First Bus in North & West Yorkshire, noted the impact, saying, “We’re seeing a positive reaction from customers to the electric buses and believe they will attract more people to consider bus travel by realising the real impact this has in reducing congestion and creating cleaner air and quieter streets.”
Each electric bus in the fleet is projected to cut carbon emissions by 75 tonnes annually, contributing to a total estimated reduction of nearly 6,000 tonnes of CO₂e per year. This transition underscores the region’s commitment to improving air quality and enhancing public transport infrastructure as part of a broader sustainability agenda.