First Bus South, operator of First Bus Solent, has introduced the first electric buses in Portsmouth, Fareham, and Gosport, marking the region’s debut of zero-emissions buses.
The initial electric bus fleet is just the beginning of an order for 62 electric buses, which will be gradually introduced on various routes in the area over the coming weeks, according to First Bus.
The project, funded at approximately £28.6 million, received support from a partnership with Portsmouth City Council and Hampshire County Council. The UK’s ZEBRA funding programme contributed £12.7 million, with an additional £15.9 million investment from public transport operator First Bus South.
“These vehicles offer significant environmental benefits as they emit zero tailpipe emissions, which means better air quality for local people,” said Simon Goff, Managing Director of First Bus South. He added, “What’s fantastic is that they’ll also improve the journey experience for our customers, providing a smoother, more comfortable ride. We hope that our passengers are as pleased with them as we are.”
Jean-Marc Gales, CEO at Wrightbus, stated, “We have great ambitions both in the UK and across Europe to have many more of our buses on the roads in the future. All of our buses have been built in Ballymena in Northern Ireland, lending further support to the wider regional economy and allowing us to create green jobs as we continue in our growth.”
