Leicester City Council will expand its electric bus fleet with the addition of ten battery-electric buses under a project supported by approximately £4 million in government funding.
The new vehicles, supplied by Pelican Bus and Coach, the United Kingdom’s importer and distributor of Yutong buses, are scheduled to enter service during the first quarter of 2027.
Fleet Expansion Continues
The electric buses will operate on council-supported services managed by Centrebus, serving routes 20, 24, 81, 83 and 162.
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The latest procurement follows Leicester’s earlier purchase of 24 Yutong battery-electric buses that are already in operation. Once the additional vehicles are delivered, Leicester City Council’s electric bus fleet will increase to 34 buses.
Councillor Geoff Whittle, Assistant City Mayor for Environment and Transport, said the investment supports the city’s efforts to modernize public transport while reducing emissions.
“This latest investment is another significant step towards delivering one of the cleanest and most modern bus networks in the country. Every new electric bus improves air quality, reduces carbon emissions and provides a quieter, more comfortable journey for passengers.”
Toward an Electric Bus Network
The fleet expansion forms part of Leicester’s Buses Enhanced Partnership Scheme, which aims to increase the number of battery-electric buses while introducing digital ticketing, improving service reliability and frequency, and expanding dedicated bus lane infrastructure.
According to the Leicester Buses Partnership, participating operators are expected to have around 200 battery-electric buses in service by the end of 2026.
Further expansion is already planned. Arriva is expected to introduce an additional 50 electric buses by March 2027, followed by another 15 vehicles in 2028.
With these additions, Leicester expects its public bus network to become almost entirely battery-electric, supporting the city’s broader objectives to reduce transport-related emissions and improve urban air quality.
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